Understanding Biases: The System 1 vs. System 2 Thinking Challenge.

Introduction: The Great Predictive Bias Challenge

One of the biggest challenges in the recruitment and selection process is the impact of our own predictive biases.

These biases are mental shortcuts our brains use to process information quickly, but often lead us to form judgments or make decisions based on stereotypes or incomplete information, rather than objective data.

This automatic mental process represents a significant challenge to achieving fair and effective personnel selection.

Common Biases in Action

When evaluating candidates, especially in the early stages or when viewing a simple image, numerous biases come into play almost instantaneously.

We can be influenced by stereotypes associated with physical appearance, the size or background of an image, gender, ethnicity, age (assuming, for example, that a trainee must be young), whether or not the person smiles, among many other factors.

These judgments are formed automatically and are difficult to control consciously.

Recognizing their existence is the first step to mitigate their negative impact on the objectivity of the selection process.

System 1 vs. System 2 Thinking: Two Ways of Processing

To better understand how biases operate, it is useful to turn to the concept of System 1 and System 2 thinking, popularized in behavioral economics.

These two systems describe different approaches our brains use to make decisions.

System 1: This is our intuitive, fast, automatic mode of thinking. It operates with little or no effort and without a sense of voluntary control.

It is responsible for our instinctive reactions and snap judgments, where our biases and stereotypes reside.

System 2: Represents our rational, analytical and deliberate thinking. It requires effort, concentration and self-control to apply.

It is the system we should activate to make objective, evidence-based decisions during an interview.

The Brain's Tendency Towards System 1

The big challenge is that our brains, particularly System 2, tend to be "lazy".

Because of the effort required for analytical thinking, approximately 98% of the time we function predominantly in System 1, the intuitive mode.

This means that, by default, our biases, stereotypes, expectations and judgments about people are activated almost instantaneously and without us even realizing it.

The Danger of Precipitated Decisions in Interviews

This predominance of System 1 is particularly dangerous in the context of selection interviews.

There is a famous idea that many interviewers make their decision about a candidate within the first few seconds of meeting him or her.

They then unconsciously spend the rest of the interview looking for information to justify that initial decision, whether positive or negative.

This is the risk inherent in the quick, intuitive thinking of System 1: we make decisions based on superficial impressions rather than on the evidence gathered.

The Objective: Deliberately Activating System 2

To conduct effective and objective recruitment interviews, it is critical to take conscious control and apply the self-discipline necessary to operate from System 2.

Although it may seem a slower, more structured and perhaps "boring" approach, basing decisions on rational, analytical System 2 thinking is what actually allows you to evaluate candidates fairly and predict their future performance more accurately.

This course focuses precisely on providing the tools and techniques to exercise that self-control and ensure that hiring decisions are based on evidence obtained through a deliberate process (System 2), minimizing the influence of automatic judgments (System 1).

Summary

The biggest challenge in selection is predictive biases. These are mental shortcuts that lead us to judge by stereotypes (appearance, gender, age) rather than objective data.

System 1 Thinking is fast, intuitive and automatic, harboring our biases. System 2 is rational, analytical and deliberate, but requires effort and concentration.

The brain tends to use System 1 by default, making decisions in the first few seconds. The goal is to force the use of System 2 to make objective decisions.