Taylor University Pillars at Taylor University Association of Christians in Student Koinonia Development Fall 1991 Koinonia Todd S. Voss Lee Demarais Kermit Zopfi Norris Friesen Follow this and additional works at: https://pillars.taylor.edu/acsd_koinonia Part of the Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons, Educational Leadership Commons, Higher Education Commons, Higher Education Administration Commons, and the Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons Recommended Citation Voss, Todd S.; Demarais, Lee; Zopfi, ermit;K and Friesen, Norris, "Koinonia" (1991). Koinonia. 44. https://pillars.taylor.edu/acsd_koinonia/44 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Association of Christians in Student Development at Pillars at Taylor University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Koinonia by an authorized administrator of Pillars at Taylor University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. FALL 1991 • • ~~~ ASSOCIATION FOR CHRISTIANS IN STUDENT DEVELOPMENT Decision Making in the 90s: The Role of Intuition by Dr. Todd S. Voss (Note: This is the second of a two-part article on choices. The foundation of these predictive the topic of Intuitive Decision Making. The first judgments is largely intuitive, which can be both part, printed in the previous issue of the Koinonia, analyzed and enhanced. The real concern is this: INSIDE • • • • • • • • • • • • • • was an instrument to assess your personal intu­ In a society where information and technology ition potential and accuracy.) continue to increase in complexity at an as­ ACSD 1991 National tounding rate, our frequency to make intuitive Conference Report • page 2 How do they do it? Those "Debbie decisions and the importance of those decisions Fields" type Fortune 500 entrepreneurs and vi­ is growing at an equally rapid pace. In essence, Conference photos & sionary leaders you read and hear about who risk a mere interest in the topic of intuition is being quotes • page 4 it all on a decision, against all odds, contrary to swifty replaced by the necessity to understand it The Reflective Christian the advice of others, in opposition to the market as a decision making tool. • page 7 data . and be right on target time after time? So where do we begin? Actually, the A hunch, a gut feeling, a calculated guess, first step in unraveling the mystery of intuition is CoCCA: The Christian a preconceived notion, an instinct, a forewarning, found by reviewing specific aspects of memory College Activities Index a suspicion, an inkling; we use these terms fre­ and cognition theory. • page 8 quently in our lives, but is there really such a Researchers believe we have a limited Position Changes • God-given sense as intuition, and if so, can we memory recall and processing capacity that is page 10 examine or enhance it? primarily sequential in nature. As we learn, we Assuming you agree that decisions are develop techniques to reconstruct memory President's Corner e page 11 strongly influenced by the anticipations we make fragments and retrieve information, but without about the near or distant future, the answer to the proper training, most of us are plagued with these questions is yes! These anticipations or subjectivity and bias in the reconstruction process. predictive judgments (Hogarth, 1980) lead to For example, we try to seek explanations and impose patterns on almost everything we "ex­ perience" no matter how extreme or falsely they are tied into cause and effect. We also fail to take into account the way we conceptualize the world and the way we ascribe meaning to information and patterns of observations. Our memory is largely built on the basis of what we observe or experience. Without looking for proper points of reference or "cues", infering future results is difficult when experience is not available to back up our predictions. We have a natural tendency to seek information to confirm our already formed ideas rather than look for possible disconfirming evidence. In addition, positive feedback is weighted more Continued on page 2 1 heavily in memory than negative feedback. Fi­ ourselves to avoid the pitfalls and enhance our nally, we need to be aware that the event in recall techniques, the better decision maker we question and environmental conditions are intri­ will become. cately related in our memory recollection pro­ 4. Assess our emotional state of mind. cess. As a result, the outcomes of a decision need Moderate stress and a stable neutral emotional to be assessed in relation to the specific environ­ level are required to make a sound intuitive ment impacted. judgment. A lack ofemotional stability produces Memory theory alerts us to several items an overemphasis on an argument in favor of a to consider in the process of enhancing predicta­ preferred alternative, a failure to search for new bility and intuitive accuracy. alternatives and later a regret for taking action 1. Be cognizant of our areas of expertise. and a fear for the outcome. This does not mean The accuracy of our intuition decreases dramati­ we need to be cold and calculated in the process. cally when we are making judgments about unfa­ Highly emotive individuals,'and those in human miliar variables. In these cases we need to solicit service environments have a greater tendancy to the advice and help of experts and creative use intuition in their decision making. However, thinkers. accuracy is increased when the emotional in­ 2. Be specifically aware of the memory volvement in a decision is assessed and con­ "cues" we perceive when making a decision and trolled accordingly. carefully assess the weight of their predictive 5. Consider the manner in which the situa­ ability in the environment. Attempt to combine tion is structured in the environment. Be aware several cues to solicit more memory fragments, that the order and subjective cost of finding and strengthen the association. information has an impact on decision making. 3. Consciously think or plot out the process For example, our tendancy is to weigh the first of judgment. Like an athlete, the more we train piece of information received about a problem ACSD 1991 National Conference Report by Lee Demarais "I have been challenged to make my Four keynote speakers spoke to the con­ faith more obvious to others in my workplace." ference atendees. Tony Cam polo, Professor of This was one participant's response to the ex­ Sociology at Eastern College, in his very ani­ cellent national conference held at Gordon Col­ mated way talked about the need to understand lege, June 3-6, 1991. The theme "Growing up in that young people respond first to experience. If North America, Society's Impact on Today's we plan to reach them, we must first grab their Student", along with a focus on the integration of attention and hearts with experiences such as faith and its role in developing college students living in a ghetto, and then later teach them carried a strong message to all participants. content, allowing them to relate the information The pre-conference workshops began being taught back to their experiences. Arthur with topics on the implications of multiculturalism Levine, Senior faculty and ethnic-identity for our programming, when member at Harvard Christian organizations are toxic, and the rela­ Graduate School of tionship of depression and angerto dysfunctional Education, told of the families. The opening banquet brought the 315 change in student in­ conferees togetherto hear from ACSD President, terests over the past two Deb Lacey and the President of Gordon College, decades, especially to­ Dr. Richard Gross. ward optimism and Tuesday morning brought the beginning activitism, and the op­ of some very special times of worship in Prince portunity for education Chapel. Richard Farmer, Dean of Chapel at to respond to this Gordon lead the services. Scripture, prayer, change. Russ Rogers stories, humor, and music, led by Dr. Farmer set gave a brief history of an atmosphere for worship that blessed all in Student Development attendance. and an analysis of the 2 more heavily in our memory than the last. Also, Recording decisions or predictions allows us to the amount of work or emotional drain required track our successes, learn from our failures, and to collect information can negatively impact our actually increase our predictive abilities in time predictive abilities. through practice. 6. Remember our human limitations in 3. Work on developing an active imagina­ processing information. We tend to block out tion. An imagination that allows us to dream and relevant arguments when they are conflicting, explore also gives us the ability to conceptualize and we are simply unable to process all the different possibilities and how we might appre­ details required to make complex decisions. Use ciate different outcomes. SELECTED REFERENCES the resources available to us to store and analyze 4. Creatively problem solve and get other information -- even as simple as paper and creative thinkers to help. We can increase our Agar, W.H. "Tomorrow's Intuitive Leaders." The Futuris~ Vol. 17. pencil. creative outcomes by having faith in our ideas, Agar, W.H. "Unlocking Your Intuition." Are there even more specific techniques bouncing ideas off of others, questioning the Management World, Vol. 14, Issue 5. that we can use to enhance our intuitive abilities? obvious, challenging the assumptions, mentally Arnheim , R. "The Double-Edged Mind There are several that seem to actually strengthen imaging outcomes, using analogies, entertaining Intuition and the Intellect." Yearbook- our intuitive abilities and accuracy in decision "impossible" ideas, challenging the status quo, 84th, Vol. 2. making. and practicing as much independence in character Demby, E.H. "Intuition vs. Research." 1. First and foremost, pray and request God's and judgment as possible in the environment. Marketing News, Vol. 21, Issue 17. guidance in decisions. He is truly interested in We should be willing to take risks and have the Edwards, W.