Judgment often begins as impression. The fast system proposes a verdict—good, bad, risky, safe—before you have articulated reasons.
Then reasons appear, arranged neatly behind the feeling like a legal brief written after the sentence. This gives you the experience of rational choice.
Many judgments are anchored in simple dimensions: similarity, intensity, frequency, mood. Once an initial evaluation exists, it spreads: the halo of one trait colors others.
The slow system can audit the process, but it usually arrives late. It is more likely to rationalize than to veto unless you deliberately activate doubt.
To understand judgment, watch the sequence: impression first, explanation second, confidence rising throughout—often without a real check on accuracy.