The Wisest One in the Room

January 1, 2016

There is more to wisdom than simply being intelligent or having practical knowledge for a particular topic. Renowned psychologists Gilovich (psychology, Cornell Univ.; How We Know What Isn't So) and Lee (psychology, Stanford Univ.; coauthor, The Person and the Situation) write that wisdom is intelligence with a certain psychological insight, a deeper understanding of human behavior and the reasoning behind such behavior. Their intent is to provide strong evidence from social psychology experiments to describe certain behavioral principles and then interpret these into everyday interactions. Most often our thoughts are reflexive and so rapid we don't realize what our brains are processing. A wise person recognizes these principles that occur and can assess the powerful situational influences that humans face and affect their behavior and thus respond differently. Wisdom is the ability to think clearly and make better decisions and judgments by reading the situation and people's reactions. Rather than be subjected to the automatic processes of our brains and those of others, readers can improve their perception of their surroundings and potentially help resolve conflict. VERDICT Those with a keen interest in human behavior will devour this insightful look into our minds that also teaches how to apply these lessons to our own experiences. --Melissa Keegan, Ela Area P.L., Lake Zurich, IL

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