Our first response—the fast, nonconscious portion of the brain—is
optimized for feeling and anticipating. Our second response—the slow,
conscious portion of the brain—is the part that does the “thinking.”
Psychologists refer to this as System 1 (feelings and rapid judgments)
versus System 2 (rational analysis). The feeling comes first (System 1); the
rationality only intervenes later (System 2). This works great when the two
are aligned, but it results in illogical and emotional thinking when they are
not.
