The two systems in human brain

The human head is divided into two parts. Did that scare you? No need to worry, it's not actually split in two, as you've probably noticed. So what do I mean? In science, the human mind is often divided into two categories: the conscious and the subconscious.

Of course, these cannot be seen with the naked eye, as they are hidden inside our heads. The brain can be scanned with a special device, but even that can only reveal clues. What are these clues? Well, they are electrical signals that can be located technically. The problem with reading these brain signals is that their content cannot be read like a book.

As for the division of the mind into two parts, that is a truly mystical concept. First of all, it must be said that even though the mind is divided into two parts, it still functions as one. Funny, isn't it? The division into two parts is a somewhat misleading term, but its purpose is to illustrate the functioning of the human mind, i.e., to simplify it.

If the models are simple, then the actual functioning of the human mind is something completely different. The purpose of this two-part systems thinking is to highlight the dualism of the mind, i.e., its two sides or two dimensions.

Both sides of the mind have their own names: the subconscious, also known as system one, and the conscious side, or system two. Together, they form the brain's control system, which is actually a single unified whole, but in science it is common to simplify phenomena for the sake of comprehensibility.

How does this information benefit the average citizen? Not necessarily very much, but it does mean that they are aware that they make choices in two ways. What do I mean by two ways? Well, most choices are made subconsciously, using system one. The second way is, of course, through system two, i.e., consciously or rationally.

However, mere awareness of a decision does not in itself make it rational; rationality requires comprehensive consideration of each issue, taking into account a wide range of factors and stakeholders that directly and indirectly affect it. In short, subconscious decisions cannot be rational in principle, because they take into account only a very limited range of factors using certain templates.

This should not be misunderstood: humans have a limited ability to influence which system they use in each situation. People are, in a sense, programmed to act in a certain way in different situations, and based on this, they are expected to act in certain ways in different situations. These assumptions are based on the fact that the majority of people act in a certain way.

How can knowledge of the existence of two systems be utilized in everyday life? Not necessarily in any direct way. However, once you know not only that they exist but also their nature, you can begin to understand how you could act differently in situations where you have to make choices. System one, or the subconscious, is extremely fast in its actions, so if you want to make more considered and slower decisions, you need to use system two, or the conscious mind.

This is not easy, because the conscious part of the brain cannot keep up with the subconscious. The best way is probably to slow down your own actions, stop, and deliberately slow down and delay. Rational thinking cannot be accelerated in practice, because its magic lies precisely in slowness, when a person does not act solely on instinct.

Note that not all decisions need to be made after deep consideration; in fact, this is not even possible in practice. However, you can try to calm the situation, especially if there is no urgent need to act. Be careful not to drift into indecision, though.

The purpose of systems

An old and worn-out cliché says that everything has a purpose. If you believe this, then every one of our characteristics has a purpose, i.e., a reason for existing. Admittedly, there are situations where it is not obvious why we act in a certain way. Philosophically, one might ask: do we always have to know the reason for something?

When it comes to figuring out reasons, we can say that it is human nature to be curious and to seek explanations. One explanation for this desire for explanations is the desire to control, i.e., humans have the idea that knowledge gives them control. On the other hand, mere knowledge or awareness of something does not guarantee that we can control it as we wish.

Of the brain's systems, system one is the most difficult to control. It is extremely fast, like a bullet faster than a shadow, which flashes by unnoticed. System one makes extensive use of so-called cognitive biases and reactions when making choices.

It should be noted that simply being aware of these biases does not mean that they can be controlled. It is not possible to control all cognitive biases, and it is unclear or questionable whether they can be controlled at all. The problem with controlling them lies in the speed of the subconscious, which is faster than the conscious mind.

The main purpose of biases is to protect us, so it is not surprising that the effects of these biases are mostly risk avoidance. If something is automated and there is no button for manual control, there is very little that can be done. This is actually what cognitive biases and the subconscious are all about. The subconscious is a very independent, autonomous, and fast system; it does not necessarily need other spoons in the soup.

Of course, one may wonder whether there is any benefit to controlling the subconscious. A follow-up question: is it there to be controlled? Previous writings have stated that human rationality is a myth, and why that is so. The subconscious, or system one, is a system that deliberately operates outside or behind our consciousness, because our consciousness is too slow to make decisions in all situations, especially frightening ones.

I have also found that if every one of the tens of thousands of daily decisions were conscious and deliberate, we would not have enough time for them. This is why we need two parallel systems to take care of everything that needs to be done. The arrangement can be described as a vehicle powered by two engines.

The systems are by no means competitors or mutually exclusive; on the contrary, they complement each other and at the same time strengthen human decision-making. Humans could not live without their subconscious, but paradoxically, they could live without deliberation.

The idea of living without deliberation certainly sounds wild, and perhaps frightening, but there are strong indications that most of the world's organisms live more or less on instinct and reaction, although it is very difficult to be certain of this. If many organisms are capable of this, why not humans? However, in that case, many of humanity's achievements would be left out of the history books.

Is the conscious system somehow subordinate to the subconscious? The answer is not entirely black and white, because they work together, alternately, although the subconscious is in charge most of the time. In principle, we are capable of deliberation when we want to, but in practice we do not.

There are situations where we would like to consider, but we are not allowed to. I mean situations where our own health, even our lives, are at risk, in which case there is often little time to make decisions about how to act.

There are many things that our own judgment cannot ignore or overlook. If we want to be indifferent and defy our defense mechanisms, it requires enormous willpower, even a reckless or masochistic personality, i.e., a fearless person. Sometimes we have to act contrary to expectations and assumptions, but it is important to know that exceptional actions do not work every day; exceptional actions require exceptional circumstances.

Often, the use of discretion and the subconscious becomes blurred, meaning that it is not entirely clear which system we are using at any given moment. The cooperation between the systems is seamless, making it difficult to know which system is currently in use, or even if both are. In fact, when we use judgment, we also use subconscious patterns and paths, such as cognitive biases that enter our consciousness without us noticing. Our own background, which we do not necessarily need to be actively aware of, is also taken into account automatically.

In summary, when we use system 2, or deliberation, we utilize a lot of information that we have accumulated and do not need to actively seek out. Biases and other tendencies also automatically influence our decision-making without us having to worry about or remember them.