So what is thin-slicing? In a nutshell, thin-slicing is something that a person does when they have to make a very quick decision with a limited amount of information. It is a decision that we make, but at the same time we are not entirely sure how we came to that decision and why the decision feels right. Even when we begin to think deeply about it, the information is there, but it is being processed behind locked doors in our minds at an extremely high rate which prevents us from finding the answer. Typically in some situations thin-slicing can either be very useful or it can be considered a mistake. If someone takes little information and decides to base their decision on that information, then that decision may end up being entirely incorrect, although, little information is all that is needed in order for us to act on a quick decision.
Some perfect examples of successful thin-slicing are the Greek kouros at the Getty Museum and the Millennium Challenge of 2002 (a simulated war game experiment and exercise directed by the United States armed forces). Back in the 1980’s, the Getty Museum was offered an opportunity to purchase a Greek kouros statue. They immediately gained interest and saw it as a great purchase, given the fact that at the time the Getty Museum was still a new museum anxiously waiting to make its mark in the art world and what better way to do that than by acquiring an ancient Greek kouros statue. After purchasing the statue, it was tested for authenticity by the best critics in Greek art. When they were shown the statue, within just seconds of seeing it, they had a feeling that something was completely wrong with the ancient Greek kouros. One critic was quoted calling it, “Fresh”. While another critic said, “Anyone who has ever seen a sculpture coming out of the ground, could tell that that thing has never been in the ground.”
In the Millennium Challenge, retired General Paul Van Riper was asked by the United States armed forces to...