Thinking, Fast and Slow

by Daniel Kahneman

Several psychological studies have shown that people who are simultaneously challenged by a demanding cognitive task and by a temptation are more likely to yield to the temptation.

Intelligence is not only the ability to reason; it is also the ability to find relevant material in memory and to deploy attention when needed.

These students can solve much more difficult problems when they are not tempted to accept a superficially plausible answer that comes readily to mind.

there was no awareness, just a habitual connection between an attitude of rejection or acceptance and its common physical expression. You can see why the common admonition to “act calm and kind regardless of how you feel” is very good advice: you are likely to be rewarded by actually feeling calm and kind.