I am reading the book BLINK by Malcolm Gladwell. The book covers many fascinating experiments and Malcolm takes what could be really dry material and makes it very compelling and personally relevant. One that really was interesting to me was one in the section called “Secrets in the Bedroom”.

To paraphrase, imagine you are looking for the best candidate for a job. I offer you two choices: meet with the person twice a week for a year to have lunch, go to dinner etc to the point you become good friends. Or instead you can drop into their house for half an hour when they aren’t there and nose around. Which opportunity would better measure how good a candidate the person is?

Amazingly, the second choice would. You would think wouldn’t you that getting to know someone over a “year” would give you a better sense. But that’s the whole point of the book… that sometimes “thin slicing” making decisions with seemingly more limited info gives you a more accurate picture of the person. Sometimes, quanity of information isn’t as important as it’s quality.

Gosling (the researcher) says that the bedroom gives you insight into first identity claims. Like how we would like to be seen by the world. For example a framed copy of a college diploma on the wall. Then there is be behavioral clues like dirty laundry on the floor or an alphabetized bookshelf. Finally there are the thoughts and feeling regulators which are changes we make to our personal spaces that affect the way we feel. Like a scented candle in the corner or a pile of decorative pillows or a soothing water fountain. If you see all these things, you *know* certain aspects about an individuals personality instantly.

And just as important is that you don’t get all the additional information that shouldn’t “count” towards measuring the best candidate for the job, things like race, height, weight, etc. What you don’t see is just as important as what you do. It also filters out what people say about themselves. Because sometimes what you say isn’t what how other’s perceive you.

Isn’t that fascinating?

I love this book Blink. Real thought provoking book. I highly recommend it.

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