Innate reasoning and critical incident decision-making

Abstract

The author describes the theory behind intuitive and analytical decision making during investigations. Forms of reasoning are described (including their limitations) together with a brief overview of what the fields of neuropsychology and evolutionary psychology might be able to contribute to our understanding. We often make decisions based on a serial assessment of information and we choose the first available workable option that appears to satisfy our requirements. Decisions during major incidents often have to be made in quick time by exercising swift judgement by choosing between options (including not to act). Inevitably, complex situations have to be simplified in the human mind with the number of options considered at any one time severely limited and inferences rapidly drawn. Heuristics are often employed to facilitate this, which whilst often effective are also linked with a number of well-known cognitive biases.