Thin-slicing

Thin-slicing is the process of making quick judgments based on limited information or limited exposure to a situation or person. It involves forming impressions or decisions from small snippets of data, such as a brief interaction or a few visual cues. Despite its brevity, research shows that these snap judgments can often be surprisingly accurate because the brain uses past experiences and subtle cues to quickly assess unfamiliar information. However, thin-slicing can also lead to errors if the initial impressions are misleading. Overall, it’s a way our mind efficiently processes complex information to make rapid decisions.