Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking

How do we make decisions -- good and bad -- and why are some people so much better at it than others? Utilizing case studies as diverse as speed dating, pop music, and the shooting of Amadou Diallo, Gladwell reveals that what we think of as decisions made in the blink of an eye are much more complicated than assumed. Drawing on cutting-edge neuroscience and psychology, he shows how the difference between good decision-making and bad has nothing to do with how much information we can process quickly, but on the few particular details on which we focus. Gladwell reveals how we can become better decision makers -- in our homes, our offices, and in everyday life. Never again will you think about thinking the same way.

[@RaquelFoster]

I'm so glad they uploaded this! At the beginning they say Blink was about to be released. So this was recorded in late 2004. The quality is great - especially the audio - considering this was recorded on office videoconferencing equipment in 2004. In 2004, the Motorola Razr was about to be the hot new $600 phone at Christmas. It had a useless VGA camera. The DPReview video camera of the year was the Sony Handycam DCR-TRV950. That's a 704x480 Mini DV camera without any digital output. Webcams were truly awful. With a good webcam you could record 640x480 video at 15 FPS or 352x288 video at 30 FPS. TV shows were not in HD. Less than 5% of the United States had an HDTV. Saturday Night Live would start broadcasting in HD in Fall 2005.

[@Lee-qj4hk]

Stop. You are scaring me. The past was horrible!

[@rosalindmartin4469]

Aha.👍

[@lisaschuster686]

Wait till you get something you’re really happy with. It will vanish with maddening speed.

[@ilexevergreen5405]

Re performing - if it's assumed that men are superior, then men walk in overconfident & women walk in underconfident. This is the reality in many areas of work. Just like the blue-eyed v. brown-eyed experiment. The expectation of the observer has a huge impact on the performer's belief in their capability, potential to succeed. Encourage & believe in someone & they will succeed (even if not initially). Teachers'/managers' bias has a large impact.

[@Naps56]

So what's your solution - in terms of research methodology and it's interpretation for making better decisions being ???

[@HemantPandey123]

Henry Ford: “If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”

[@adolfmudau9956]

lol

[@ingeholmes9923]

Perfect retort.

[@calebriley7466]

In short, so many businesses.. foods..and technology cator to the most comfortable yet shallow parts of our psyche. What's the hurry? This was gold:)

[@ingeholmes9923]

Most valuable information presented with humor and a level of uncertainty.

[@Zoonofski]

My rapid cognition was his hair is awesome!

[@Lee-qj4hk]

Sideshow Bob in training

[@peterpensuse4774]

Grateful that such videos are available for free online

[@meks90]

The way Malcolm replies questions...... The dude is more than a journalist. They just don't give certificates for knowledge earned out of school...

[@laurelledubois]

He still studied (history) - academics are taught how to "research" - and that is exactly what he does - he researches his topics and fields. I was just talking ot a PhD client of mine - and I said: "Oh the other day I hear "someone say"... and then I went on: "oh, but don't ask me who - because I can't retain information like "you guys" (academics) do". They "reference" and keep source information because when they write papers they need to reference the source...

[@louisadigrazia1285]

I love that you said this. I'm in a field for 50 years of experience and people in my field with letters after their name get invited to speak with very little experience! Thank you!

[@Naps56]

Hope it saves you money in terms of your childrens' education. A degree can't improve IQ, and neither can ensure success that only practice can. But practice is an interactive process, with frequent failures before sucess. Which is why most opt to preach business in an MBA , instead of practicing it.

[@ramkumarr1725]

Now I get Blink. I can do it. Thinking without thinking. Thanks Malcolm Gladwell. I was skeptical before. I can zoom in into the answer quickly thanks to you. Did some robotic Process Automation too.

[@BLUEGENE13]

you'd think Microsoft could afford a better camera

[@lyricessence]

And sound system. And presentation room. It's profoundly awful.

[@sliskekeeling]

This was probably recorded in the late 2000's cameras have come a long way since then. Just watch old youtube videos for proof

[@kingsleyoppong-wereko7239]

@@sliskekeeling I don't give a damn how old the video is.. It's Microsoft man🤣🤣

[@RaquelFoster]

This video is from 2004. That means the Motorola Razr was about to be the hot new phone. The best cameras were Mini DV cameras with 704x480 resolution. TV shows didn't start broadcasting in HD until fall 2005. This was recorded on office videoconferencing equipment from before 1080p cameras existed. I think the quality is pretty great - especially the audio.

[@kylestephens9593]

@@kingsleyoppong-wereko7239 see? There is a reason the quality is what it is. Raquel Foster explained it it pretty well.

[@jacobrancourt2508]

I remember reading Blink in highschool and then followed it up immediately afterwards with a parody of the book called Blank which was full of inane rambling and nonsense. This had the effect of utterly destroying any informational value of the reading but it was quite entertaining

[@manuelmarchetti7347]

I couldn't believe this and assumed it was a joke (the first part), but I did a check. The crazy idea of parodying a lecture worthy book seemed unlikely but it's real, "Blank: The Power of Not Actually Thinking at All (A Mindless Parody)".

[@teeI0ck]

showing an accurate and deep understanding; great perceptive. 💡 Muito obrigado for all the insightful information. 🤝

[@goodgrief888]

This is why I always get so nervous during eye exams when they ask me which is more clear, slide A, slide B, or slide C. IDK! Quit interrogating me! And then I run, crying, out of the ophthalmologist office and into the street without my glasses and get hit by a bus

[@oldsoul3539]

Hiding musicians behind screens means you can't see them but it also means they can't see you, which means it would help anyone with performance anxiety, as was later found out. Sexism was found not to be the explanation, some people actually are worse musicians when they're being watched.

[@DennisRay99]

That would be me

[@ilexevergreen5405]

The observer effect

[@cautionhumanbeing749]

The sexism and other bigoted bias is real.

[@josefelix254]

14:14 😂😂😂😂😂 I'd go back to the second one immediately

[@NewYork7914]

But many ppl still agree or trust that "First impression is the last impression"

[@Naps56]

@NewYork NewYork Not in all categories - As the perceived risk in a purchase goes up, the consideration phase of a prospective buyer gets longer, thus restraining an impulse ("first impression") decision.

[@koulster2]

I bought the book Blink in 2004 and I definitely am gong to read it ( in the meantime I thought, why not watch this video on Blink ).

[@rosemullen1856]

I commute to work an hour each way. Audible or a reader of your choice is the way IMHO. I have READ so many books this way, it’s great. Makes the ride go by so fast and getting educated !

[@willwood3874]

14:23 that buzzing noise like an error Haha. perfect timing.

[@Naps56]

In MR lingo Post-purchase rationalisation is what the "swinging ropes" example refers to.

[@ilexevergreen5405]

Funny, I thought that those who had to explain in paragraph form why they selected a particular poster would choose the Impressionist paintings (even if they were BS-ing). Thought they'd be embarrassed to choose a cute animal poster; didn't even think that they'd have a childhood pet story to write about!

[@krushfield]

Me too

[@ilexevergreen5405]

@@krushfield :D

[@cautionhumanbeing749]

This may not be relevant, because you are making a fair point. However, not everyone shares the same visual spacial abilities. I know I see more colour variations and nuance as well as being able to take in the whole. So. I can stand and look at something from all directions and then go close up to it and stair at it for ages and still be getting lots of information and enjoyment out of it. I just see more going on. So, not always about its appearance, but more about the experience of investigating it. It just depends. I can also enjoy a blue dot on a plain green back ground as much as a Rembrandt. Depending on my day. Not snobbery, it;s what I see there. I also like watching plants grow. Lol!

[@ilexevergreen5405]

@@cautionhumanbeing749 same! ♡♡♡

[@pavanatanaya]

Was this recorded during Malcolm's Prison days?

[@draineddestiny7521]

Daylyt brought me here ayyye

[@eternall2957]

same

[@rayh9897]

Same

[@OnePercentTraining1]

What Daylt say to bring you here and what video?

[@draineddestiny7521]

@@OnePercentTraining1 can't remember but it was a livestream and he said to do research on this book

[@weirdosquaaad]

My people lol me too

[@abdullahgulshan9913]

My! Does this mean that the next time I hate a snap, I shouldn't be very confident of my own judgement?

[@sudarshanbadoni6643]

Before me watch that the power of thinking without thinking is probabilistic yet certain EMERGENCE of cute great better designed butterfly's that does exist in creative minds in every field from art literature and further and further to the speaker here in front of us and thanks.

[@02_aldebaranrahmanadhitya95]

10:22 "Principle number one..."

[@htttppppp]

We are highly paradoxical beings inside.

[@GM-ww]

Let’s talk about Tinder (in this context), as long as we don’t have to explain our decisions.

[@taylorcolonna457]

Today in 2021 The sub title of this lecture is... How Social Media Became A Global Focus Group. ☮❤😊☯️ 🙈🙊🙉

[@quartytypo]

Wasn't it Descartes who said I think therefore I screw up

[@executiveworksllc9457]

It's recall, thinking is different.

[@senibo123]

That’s why you don’t ask children what they wanna be

[@rosalindmartin4469]

Sir, some people refuse to, are educated to avoid these "augenblick" decisions. And, yes, social situations may insist on them. Emergency situations require them. Your speech is certainly interesting and clever but, Viewer, do not walk away without thinking ... about ... whatever 😃

[@Omphaloskopie]

I just looked at the Aeron and i find it pretty ugly tbh. but knowing that it is $1500 can totally sway peoples mind. i certainly wouldn't mind having it to sit and flex. i can't fathom a focus group not trashing the bmw 4series or the porsche taycan and the same people being all "doesn't look as bad after all" when seeing it on the streets. status warps peoples mind even into buying bags that have the ridiculous YSL-brand all over it. but interesting talk nonetheless

[@rosalindmartin4469]

Kinda screws with "LOVE AT FIRST SITE" [sic ] Bravo at min.36 beginning to explain women in orchestra employment ... It's situational. Perhaps requiring correcting severe anti-female bias as much as all else.

[@RockHudrock]

They do blind auditions now (behind a curtain) and women do much better

[@cautionhumanbeing749]

It's the same bias against female visual artists. And everything else.

[@jonbassett9391]

I swear Malcom Gladwell workd incognito at the VA hospital I use. He likes to walk!

[@RockHudrock]

There are a lot of guys who look like him

[@RockHudrock]

Malcolm

[@jonbassett9391]

@@RockHudrock my bad, fixed it.

[@ericheine2414]

Consider chopsticks, two sticks were better than one. You could out eat the guy sitting next to you. The guy with one stick noticed this, and he wanted a second stick. So he sold out to Microsoft. Brilliant.

[@talimn]

Made my day, thank you.

[@ericheine2414]

@@talimn rock on my friend

[@nunyabidnis3815]

"You could out eat the guy sitting next to you." Welp, I read that wrong the first time!

[@cjjdnc]

@@nunyabidnis3815 lmao I did a doubletake

[@organicportalphobic9601]

As soon as he said the first thing “I’m neither no brilliant no genius but I’ll let that slide” I said ‘ who the hell does this peculiar looking fellow thing he is being this guy 😂😅

[@tereseshaw7650]

Is Microsoft sending us a message by using the ancient symbol used by Christmas to i.d. each other?

[@ingeholmes9923]

As a fit and relatively young looking octogenarian I sense constant bias, particularly from the medical community. "are you really ....?"

[@cautionhumanbeing749]

Yes. His tone and what he thinks is mind blowing are mind blowing. He's in his own universe. And bias unconscious or conscious is everywhere. It's nasty.

[@sheldonquamina9634]

That’s why so many people are in jail today especially in case of witnesses who just say what maybe a lawyer or police officer puts in their heads

[@johnadams8066]

Thanks Got. At least the microphone is better compared to its video whose quality is likely to be used to film Roswell episode.

[@laurelledubois]

Well it was filmed in 2005 - quality was different back then... just be greatful it was filmed at all!

[@walterhayley7252]

Well, I'm here six years or so after this video was uploaded, so while I'm not going to filter through all the comments, I'm wondering if anyone else noticed that every question was asked by a man (unless I dozed off along the way)...

[@moeazam6358]

These seem like the kind of problems that someone with an unintegrated subconscious would suffer from. Someone without a moral ground theory or an awareness of his culture's Epistemology.

[@Gabe00723]

If you love to split hairs, this debate is for you.

[@RockHudrock]

Or if you like bushy hair! 😆 Gladwell is frikkin awesome!

[@HectorHernandez-ec3nd]

What's up with the beeping at the :50 mark ? was it because the audio was being raised for the question to be heard and local cellphone emission was being picked up? Come on guys!

[@naeemsheikh4597]

Hector Hernandez really? Is that the best comment you can come up with? You're one of those that picks up on the immaterial peripherals and not any of the substance.

[@dougjstl1]

I didn't hear any beeping did you you heard the beep that means you heard to be

[@HectorHernandez-ec3nd]

@@naeemsheikh4597 it's a comment. It's the internet.

[@yuiyuiyuiyui8800]

i think people can hate that chair. It didn't correspond to the simple aesthetic lines one would use to qualify beauty and that chair seemed overly busy. Maybe some may say they hate it because of lack of ability to find words but most would probably genuinely dislike it because it was unusual. It is quite typically human to fear and disdain the unknown

[@crisclucas5182]

'...a simple series of experiments where we put a screen up where you can no longer see or hear the accent f the person charged.' Amazing. And yes. Let's see if that makes a difference. Malcolm for President! Can a Canadian born become US President? :)

[@nicholetaimi5331]

They are not "undecided". They are playing coy. They want to be pursued up to the last possible minute.

[@beritbranch4949]

shuffle of to Buffalo

[@RacerNerd]

Will the Tesla Cybertruck become the next Aeron?

[@DrChrisPM]

It already is

[@DennisRay99]

Yash

[@angelahenson1596]

Absolutely. It’s ugly as hell lol but everything you’re ever gonna need in a vehicle. Bullet proof even

[@arjalanarayan]

Toronto Night College

[@kn9ioutom]

REMEMBER THE MAN WHO PROCLAIMED THAT HE WAS A STABLE GENIUS ? HE WAS A DISASTER !!!

[@komegaj]

His last appearance was taped and archived... on what, stone tablets? The quality of this video is a disservice to the brilliant Malcolm Gladwell.

[@feralmode]

stop whining, it’s a fascinating talk... you got it for free...

[@komegaj]

@@feralmode said in jest... relax

[@feralmode]

​@@komegaj where is the joke? i can't see it. it reads like you are really pissed off about the quality.

[@komegaj]

@@feralmode I guess this is where texting doesn't work because if I were saying my first statement out loud I would be laughing but you're right, you wouldn't know that. I'm not pissed off about the quality, would be nice if it were better but I'm still happy to hear him talk... have and love all of his books.

[@feralmode]

@@komegaj i will forgive you this time but don't do it again, you hear? lol

[@jasonw137]

the good snap judgements that a cop makes are easy to spot... they result in fewer cops

[@FirstNameLastName-oq8xc]

"Give people chairs for 6 months then observe them" but you cant give all customers chairs for 6 months to evaluate? the purpose is to sell the chairs , so the first judgment is important for the chairs, people do buy goods when their have fewer choices , example: my nearest grocery store has one type of pots as a result most people in my area has those pots, maybe clients bought the chairs cause they were more available and they got used to see them

[@DasAntiNaziBroetchen]

You seriously think people ad no choice but to buy the *ultimate, incredibly expensive state of the art chair* ?

[@tgeee]

During the Q&A, were all the questioners male? (I think so.) Kind of meta how all the questions that touched upon gender differences were asked by males.

[@cautionhumanbeing749]

Did you look carefully at the faces of the women in the Audience? I saw sadness and majorly pissed of people...anger managmnet ...they had not questions. They had something to say and were sitting on it.

[@DasAntiNaziBroetchen]

@@cautionhumanbeing749 Is that a snap judgement too? The image is so blurry, I can hardly tell I am looking at humans.

[@denif5678]

Quero todos os meus e-mails de volta3!!!🙏🙏🙏 Todos os meus e-mails com poder estão ligados na sua empresa e foi por isto que ela teve o crescimento!!!

[@cautionhumanbeing749]

Often the best people are not elevated to the positions they need to be in for all our sakes. Someone with an instinct for deign could evaluate that chair in an instance. As could someone who sits in chairs at length and knows the issues. Or both. Not everyone likes sweets. Also, people are not created with identical sense abilities. I don't understand why the triangle test is hard. I can evaluate multiple things in a group of multiple things. This is disturbing news. Weird that people have to make up stories. Fine if its an analogy or a metaphor...This all ex-plains a lot. Wow. The dishonesty. I would have mentioned the guy brushing past the rope. This blew my mind. I need a break now.

[@DasAntiNaziBroetchen]

Amazing how while trying to appear smart, you just reiterated how people think they are not prone to subconscious biases.

[@recklesslove2880]

Why do I keep watching

[@cautionhumanbeing749]

I'm in stop start mode. I can't stand him or what his own bias ans inaccurate slant is all about.

[@mastershredder2002]

This guy talks about the best office chair, but you can tell by his hair that his favorite chair was the electric chair.

[@semmyalex4692]

Great talk as usual by Malcolm Gladwell, and dismal audio/video quality.....

[@kingsleyoppong-wereko7239]

Elon Musk LeBron James Malcolm Gladwell Paul Kagame Shannon Sharpe People I have to meet in my lifetime.

[@buyvibe]

When you meet me, your destiny will be fulfilled.

[@kingsleyoppong-wereko7239]

@@buyvibe thanks Jesus.

[@calbrush6654]

Women don’t frame music as competition like men. They were intimidated

[@cautionhumanbeing749]

No not true. That;s been conditioning. When that's overcome and or wasn't there, women can be very competitive. One thing women learn is to mask their ambition to not attract ridicule, name calling and other hateful things. Men are also not all of the same mindset as you frame them. As well, competitive can be a very misunderstood word. If you meant competitive in terms of getting opportunities and a wage increase, women are just striving to hang on to their jobs and not encounter unwanted attention. That doesn't mean they don't want those opportunities to rise. Women, as with minorities...anyone with additional bias towards them. are fighting just to be there.

[@PETE4955]

The US voter.

[@bwryuun]

What does this tell us about narratives of people encountering aliens god… holy book writings?

[@chenyitube]

Microsoft using VHS technology...

[@zenleeparadise]

lol they’re software developers not filmmakers. The point of a lecture is the content, it doesn’t need to be in 4K. I don’t get this complaint, it seems to be like a quarter of the comments despite being pretty silly.

[@hannahstansfield4034]

Since when is the hideous opposite of the beautiful

[@cautionhumanbeing749]

Great sentence. :)

[@RockHudrock]

Did someone blackmail Malcolm Gladwell? Why would he show up at such a ridiculous venue and subject himself to such low-quality video recording?! There are far better videos of Feynman, for gosh sakes!

[@BLUEGENE13]

we're all liars? great.....

[@kingsleyoppong-wereko7239]

Was that a coke ad there? 🤣

[@creepywhitva17]

Microsoft Sold Out. O

[@bwryuun]

So much for police action in uvaulde shooting … thow yourself into action! Not grabbing for guns ?!?

[@banksdennis1893]

The nervous october biomechanically divide because burma comparatively educate from a stupendous antelope. languid, stupendous dollar

[@danielcrabtree1695]

Okay...if you have to read a book on thinking without thinking. You're never going to be able to do it and if you can do it you have no need for such a fucking book. Just sayin..im going to write Shitting without Poop and expect it to be better.

[@nilamp860]

The absent carbon cytopathologically receive because ocean sequently snatch outside a plausible flight. nutty, absent arrow

[@ryadboulasbaa6335]

The scientific warm geographically scrape because purchase evocatively approve aside a direful noise. solid, simplistic sudan

[@germanarrowood2748]

The infamous baboon structurally clap because chicory lily cheer alongside a aquatic division. bite-sized, stale employer

[@saiyurifrancis3103]

is it just me or is it kinda weird how not a single woman asked a question

[@fidgetyrock4420]

its become clear now.. women get shamed for being logical, and men become shamed for ..... ?

[@larknoone565]

@@fidgetyrock4420 I would really admire a logical but beautiful woman!

[@charlottewashington1756]

@@larknoone565 How sexist.

[@cautionhumanbeing749]

@@charlottewashington1756 YES! TO EXTREME!!!

[@danremenyi1179]

This is not one of Malcom's better ones.

[@WheelsakaSpeedy]

The electric star thoracically fail because whistle aditionally camp astride a romantic booklet. boundless, quack lan

[@RockHudrock]

Disappoint

[@kerloz4097]

The extra-large extra-small exuberant butane externally shade because copyright contrastingly spell up a whole grape. trite, tedious chest

[@RockHudrock]

Brilliant!

[@baracka112]

For fuck sakes. He's a good author and I liked this book but he seems awkward and nervous as hell. Uh uhh uh. Maybe he wasn't as experienced in public speaking back in 02

[@catherinemcginnis1538]

dee astley , um, uh, uh, could he just be searching for the right words? Either way, enjoy listening to him.

[@cautionhumanbeing749]

I don't care about that stuff, its what hes saying that's pissed me off.

[@Mexicotravelltd.]

Why the setting looks like from the '70s 🥱 and it only says it's 6 years ago

[@karagi101]

It’s from 2004. 6 years ago it was posted on this channel.