Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
5.7 INTUITION: TRACES OF THE NONCONSCIOUS IN THE
CONSCIOUS
The nonconscious system works without our knowing it, but does not
fully operate as a black box. We receive some information out of this sys-
tem, although we seldom know what this information is based on. Earlier
in this chapter, we mentioned the gut feeling, produced as a warning by
the danger system. This gut feeling gives us hunches about what to do or
to avoid. Usually we don
t know why the danger system gives this mes-
sage. We experience the result (if we are able to listen to bodily signs) but
not the reasoning behind it. We all have intuitive feelings from time to
time, notions that pop up without us actually knowing why. People who
can rely on their intuition usually make sound decisions, both in business
and private life. They also anticipate possible risks.
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The biggest mistake we can make concerning intuition, is that we see
it as a competence independent of experience. Intuition is a very efficient
and nonconscious process that combines actual perception with data min-
ing in the several memories within our brain. We experience intuition as a
hunch; in fact, it is a result of combining large amounts of stored data
and drawing conclusions. Without these data, intuition cannot work. The
problem is that the consciousness cannot distinguish the well-founded
intuition from the poor-founded one. If the database is not filled, we
cannot rely on our intuition. So we can never use our intuition on a sub-
ject with which we are not familiar. Stated differently, in new situations
or with new subjects, we must forget our intuition and fully rely on facts.
We cannot trust that a situation is safe; we have to check it. Without
previous experience, intuition degenerates into simplification. The High
Reliability Organization theory cautions for this. A lack of experience
demands that we shift to the conscious system, safety awareness.
Intuition is not a competence on its own. It needs a database to rely on.
Case 1
When discussing the incident later, one of the mechanics mentioned
that he had one moment of doubt when they arrived at cooler PSG-
45D. He thought he heard PSG-45E, but because he was not clearly
listening to the conversation between the operator and his team mem-
ber in the control room, he didn
t confirm it. Later, he blamed himself
for not attending this little warning inside.
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