System 1 / System 2

Biological Parallel

The startle reflex is System 1—a snake-shaped stick triggers instant jumping before conscious recognition. Deciding which berry species to eat is System 2—slow, deliberate evaluation of color, smell, and past experience. All vertebrates exhibit this dual-process architecture: fast, automatic threat detection (amygdala-driven) and slow, analytical decision-making (prefrontal cortex when present). The division isn't a cognitive quirk; it's an evolutionary necessity because some decisions (predator!) can't wait for analysis, while others (food source?) benefit from deliberation.