ABSTRACT
Psychology suggests that people have two distinct cognitive systems, each with its own properties and mode of operation. One of these systems is conscious. The other system is not conscious and not open to introspection — it's hidden but extremely important in guiding our actions. The Nobel Laureate Daniel Kahneman calls these systems 'System 1' and 'System 2'. System 1 works on the principle of associative activation: ideas that have been evoked trigger many other ideas, in a spreading cascade of activity in people’s brain. The System 1 thinking — it's automatic, unconscious and fast. System 2 uses more propositional and logical reasoning. Kahneman's work offers us a coherent framework for thinking about biases and how they might operate in any context, including climate change. It emphasises the importance and primacy of our emotional responses in determining our rationally expressed beliefs, and offers a theoretical perspective on the very different processes that underpin our cognitions.
