Comments on: The science of hunches? http://www.scottberkun.com/blog/2009/the-science-of-hunches/ Management and Creative Thinking Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:46:30 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: PG http://www.scottberkun.com/blog/2009/the-science-of-hunches/comment-page-1/#comment-566213 PG Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:59:08 +0000 http://www.scottberkun.com/?p=2254#comment-566213 A minor comment on your basic survival logic: "if you have two creatures, one who is a little paranoid and worries about things that often don’t happen, and one that is totally carefree and fears nothing, the former has higher odds of survival." While this used to be true in a primal setting, these days, I'd argue that the latter creature would have a higher chance of living longer. The former would tend to be more pessimistic, negative, anxious and tensed resulting in poorer health. See: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/09/health/09iht-snpess.4148184.html?_r=1&scp=17&sq=glass%20half%20empty%20health&st=cse A minor comment on your basic survival logic:

“if you have two creatures, one who is a little paranoid and worries about things that often don’t happen, and one that is totally carefree and fears nothing, the former has higher odds of survival.”

While this used to be true in a primal setting, these days, I’d argue that the latter creature would have a higher chance of living longer. The former would tend to be more pessimistic, negative, anxious and tensed resulting in poorer health. See: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/09/health/09iht-snpess.4148184.html?_r=1&scp=17&sq=glass%20half%20empty%20health&st=cse

]]> By: Scott Berkun http://www.scottberkun.com/blog/2009/the-science-of-hunches/comment-page-1/#comment-565971 Scott Berkun Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:50:56 +0000 http://www.scottberkun.com/?p=2254#comment-565971 Divya: I seriously believe there can never be a definite scientific answer to your (excellent) question. The science does show how odd our memories are, and that our memory systems alone are incredibly unreliable (See <a href="http://www.scottberkun.com/blog/2009/must-read-book-brain-rules/"Brain Rules</a rel="nofollow">), add to that our own choices, conscious and subconscious for how to interpret and use memory, and I think it will always be largely mysterious, for the same reasons our personalities, and why any of us decide any of the things we do, are.</a> Divya: I seriously believe there can never be a definite scientific answer to your (excellent) question. The science does show how odd our memories are, and that our memory systems alone are incredibly unreliable (See ), add to that our own choices, conscious and subconscious for how to interpret and use memory, and I think it will always be largely mysterious, for the same reasons our personalities, and why any of us decide any of the things we do, are.

]]> By: Divya http://www.scottberkun.com/blog/2009/the-science-of-hunches/comment-page-1/#comment-565970 Divya Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:20:24 +0000 http://www.scottberkun.com/?p=2254#comment-565970 Interesting idea. But the issue is emotions are related to past experiences too. So, if I have had a negative experience in a circus, I will be nervous when entering a circus again. But, sometimes, it is not even obvious that we are reacting to an experience from the past. I wonder how much that affects our hunches? Interesting idea. But the issue is emotions are related to past experiences too. So, if I have had a negative experience in a circus, I will be nervous when entering a circus again. But, sometimes, it is not even obvious that we are reacting to an experience from the past. I wonder how much that affects our hunches?

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