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Key points
- Intuition can be the brain's way of processing lots of information quickly based on previous experience.
- It may feel like an answer just suddenly comes when a lot of work is going on behind the scenes.
- Intuition is a debated topic in psychology due to concerns about biases.
This post was co-written by Justine Saavedra and Tchiki Davis.
Intuition can be a difficult concept to define—it is sometimes described as the sixth human sense. It happens when your brain quickly takes in large amounts of information and processes it based on your past experiences, leading you to an automatic answer. Intuition is the result of your brain putting together everything you have learned from past experiences in your life to help you form a quick conclusion.
Intuition usually comes to you in an instant. All at once, you understand what you need to do or what the answer to the question is. Often, you can’t explain why you feel that way; you just do.
Examples of intuition:
- Feeling like you have a “pit” in your stomach when you have to make a hard decision
- “Light bulb” moments where you understand something or get a good idea out of nowhere
- Reading non-verbal communication cues to understand what people are saying between the lines
You can use your intuition to make decisions in situations where analytical thinking alone isn’t enough. Sometimes, connecting to your intuition and making a decision based on how you feel is the best way forward.
What Is Intuition in Psychology?
Intuition is a hotly debated concept in the psychology field. This is because it is hard to measure and hard to define. Of particular interest are the biases that can come with following your intuition.
Intuition plays a large role in how we interpret data. As one article states, “intuitions constructed from a lifetime of experience are not dismissed easily,” and “intuitions can foster or hinder theoretical progress in a scientific discipline” (Cacioppo, 2004). It is a delicate balance to follow one’s intuition while being aware of the biases that might come along with it.
Can you think of any times in your life that you have felt like you immediately knew what to do based on a gut feeling? Consider the following examples of intuition to gain a better understanding.
- Lauren is about to graduate from high school and needs to make some decisions about her future. She is either going to head straight to college or join the military. After some consideration, she decides to join the military because, to her, “it just feels like the right choice.” This choice allows her the opportunity to travel the world, learn useful life skills, and help pay for college once she completes her contract. Following her “gut” turned out to be a good decision.
- Manuel works at the mall downtown. He is working late one night and sees the parking lot is almost empty, with one car parked next to his. He gets a bad feeling and asks security to escort him to his car. He feels good that he followed his intuition and avoided a possibly dangerous situation.
Intuition Exercise
- Sit comfortably and get in touch with your breath. Count “1” and inhale, then count “2” and exhale. Repeat this until you feel relaxed.
- Identify a situation you need further insight into and focus on all of the details of the problem.
- Pay attention to how your body responds. Positive situations usually manifest positive bodily feelings, and the same is true for negative situations and feelings.
- Make a decision about the situation based on your bodily reactions. Try to trust yourself and know that your gut is leading you in the right direction.
In Sum
Intuition can be a difficult concept to define. It is usually a very different experience for different people. Some common phrases people use when following their intuition include “I had a gut feeling” or “I am following my heart.” These expressions demonstrate that intuition is usually a feeling you experience in your body.
When you follow your intuition, it might feel like you are being pulled towards a decision or situation, even if you can’t explain why. Some people are very in touch with their intuition and find it easy to follow their desires. Others may struggle with connecting to their intuition, which might lead to feelings of confusion and overwhelm. Try incorporating the exercises in this article or intuitive eating into your life to help reconnect to your intuition.
A version of this post was published by The Berkeley Well-Being Institute.
References
Cacioppo, J. T. (2004). Common sense, intuition, and theory in personality and Social Psychology. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 8(2), 114–122.
