Can Intuitive Decision Making Improve Homeland Security?

Judgmental processes involved in risk perception and decision making have traditionally been conceptualized as cognitive in nature, being based upon a rational and deliberate evaluation of the situation at hand. Conversely, a sampling of research from diverse literatures suggests that intuitive decision-making may offer an alternative (or possibly complementary) behavioral strategy in some situations. Historically, psychologists have been reluctant to acknowledge intuition as a viable construct, often consigning it to the fringes of the field of psychology, in part because of the numerous articles in the popular press extolling the virtues of “gut instincts” and “hunches.” Several recent scholarly reviews, however, suggest that the concept of intuition has begun to emerge as a legitimate subject of scientific inquiry, and one that may have important ramifications for educational, personal, medical, and organizational decision-making; personnel selection and assessment; team dynamics; training; and organizational development.