Keep Austin Agile 2017

People have the impression that thinking and behavior follow a somewhat linear progression in which we perceive the world around us, gather information, decide, and act. From this perspective, it’s possible to believe that if we all had access to and understood the same information, we’d all reach the same conclusions. Human decision-making is complicated. however. by the fact that our minds are products of genetically-determined wiring and past experiences, which contribute to what we notice, what we think, and what we do. The human brain evolved in ways that advantaged survival and procreation at a time when the circumstances were unlike those of contemporary society. As brains developed, older structures were not replaced with newer ones; newer structures and enhanced capacities for cognition complemented what was already in place. This combining of old and new ways of thinking is at the heart of the complexity of how we think, decide, and act. This engaging presentation offers anyone engaged in creative work a fresh perspective on thinking, learning, and decision-making.