“Intuitive” is a word that gets thrown around a lot, especially in Instagram Reels and TikTok videos, or some users’ bios. But it’s not all woo-woo; there’s something to the psychology of intuition.
“The non-woo explanation of strong intuition is the ability to quickly recognize patterns and make sense of information without consciously working through every step,” Dr. Brittany McGeehan, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist and performance coach, tells Parade. “Your brain may notice subtle cues, connect them with past experiences and give you a sense that something is ‘off’ or ‘right’ before you can explain why.”
Sure, there might be a connection to a higher power, but the psychologist says the scientific process is “deeply ingrained pattern recognition.”
She also shares that signs of strong intuition include the ability to:
- Make decisions more efficiently
- Recognize patterns
- Read social situations
- Navigate uncertainty
Yet, some habits of highly intuitive people get labeled as “bad.” She notes that strong intuition can sometimes turn negative—no one is perfect.
“The pitfall is assuming every strong feeling or prediction is accurate,” she explains. “Anxiety, bias, past experiences and fear can all feel like intuition. If you’re overly reliant on intuition, you can be missing key information or possibly miss out on new experiences.”
Still, Dr. McGeehan says some “negative” traits actually signal strong intuitions and are worth maintaining. She shares seven “bad” habits of highly intuitive people, plus how to determine whether you’re leaning into intuition or anxiety. Scroll on for a primer on the psychology of intuition.
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The Science of Intuition: Why We Mislabel It as a ‘Bad’ Habit
Dr. McGeehan knows that intuition can sound like a mystical “sixth sense” or give off a woo-woo vibe. However, she says she’s looked into the psychology of it.
“Psychologically, intuition is just your brain recognizing a pattern before your conscious mind catches up,” she tells Parade.
She notes that Daniel Kahneman, author of Thinking, Fast and Slow, described this fast, automatic thinking as “System 1 processing.” Dr. McGeehan thinks the explanation helps explain the neuroscience and psychology of intuition.
“Your brain is constantly collecting information from past experiences and your current environment, and sometimes the result simply arrives as ‘Something feels off’ or ‘This feels right,'” she explains.
She adds that sometimes, the reaction shows up physically. You may get chills or notice the hair on your back standing up. She notes that neuroscientist Antonio Damasio’s Somatic Marker Hypothesis rests on the idea that bodily emotions affect human decision-making.
“This is why I think of intuition as information worth getting curious about, not necessarily a command you have to follow,” Dr. McGeehan explains. “Because at its core, it’s fed by how your brain is collecting, storing and interpreting information. This can be incredibly helpful and incredibly dangerous if not challenged occasionally.”
She explains that some habits of highly intuitive people are labeled “bad” because they don’t always look productive to others (thanks, hustle culture). Someone may seemingly overanalyze an interaction, daydream or hesitate because “something feels off.” She clarifies that these behaviors can become unhelpful, but they can also be highly beneficial.
“They can also be signs that the brain is still processing information and recognizing patterns outside of conscious awareness,” she states. “The key is remembering that intuition is information to investigate, not proof that your interpretation is correct.”
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7 ‘Bad’ Habits That Signal Strong Intuition
Some habits of highly intuitive people get a bad reputation. Dr. McGeehan wants these habits to get a second look because they may actually signal strong intuition.
1. You engage in subconscious processing
Dr. McGeehan notes that “subconscious processing” is a fancy term that means that your brain works with information, even when you’re not consciously aware of all of it.
“It is constantly taking in information, comparing it to past experiences and noticing patterns without you deliberately thinking about them,” she explains. “Sometimes that processing reaches your conscious mind as a sudden insight or a feeling that something just ‘clicks.'”
For instance, she says highly intuitive people may habitually replay conversations afterward, and others may label them “overthinkers.”
“Their brain may have picked up on something they haven’t consciously identified yet, a subtle change in tone, expression or behavior that suggests someone may be uncomfortable, withholding information or that something simply doesn’t add up,” she tells Parade. “Replaying can be a sign of strong intuition when it helps someone identify meaningful patterns and gain clarity.”
She shares that the key distinction between intuition and anxiety is whether subconscious processing leads to useful insight or becomes repetitive rumination without new information.
2. You notice very subtle changes in people and environments
Noticing very subtle changes in those around you is one of those “highly sensitive person” traits that can actually signal strong intuition. Dr. McGeehan says someone may quickly notice a pivot in another person’s tone, expression, energy or behavior. The person may get labeled “too sensitive” or “someone who reads into things.”
“It also means they’re collecting more information,” she shares. “The important caveat is that noticing something accurately doesn’t guarantee you’ll interpret it accurately.”
She notes that it’s crucial to acknowledge that just because you interpret information a certain way doesn’t mean it’s reality-based.
“We can only know our version/interpretation of things,” she says. “The people around us are doing the exact same thing through their own lens and histories.”
3. You daydream
“I feel like such a nerd saying this, but I am a huge fan of the default mode network,” Dr. McGeehan shares. “It’s my favorite part of the brain.”
She explains that the default mode network is a group of interconnected brain regions that support internally focused thinking, remembering the past, imagining the future, thinking about ourselves and others and mind-wandering. There’s a link between the default mode network and daydreaming.
“When you’re daydreaming or staring out the window, your brain isn’t necessarily doing nothing,” she states. “It may be connecting experiences, memories and possibilities in the background, which can be incredibly useful for intuitive thinking.”
But daydreaming at the wrong time can interfere with attention. Still, the psychologist insists that “not all mind-wandering is wasted time.” She even requires top C-level executive clients running major companies to put time on their calendars to daydream.
“Giving the brain periods without constant external stimulation can support reflection, creativity and new connections,” she says.
4. You trust your gut
“Trusting your gut” is sometimes billed as a good thing. People may even ask you, “What does your gut tell you?” when you have a tough choice to make. Other times, certain bosses or family members may think you’re making a mistake by not taking the more traveled, logical road. Trusting your gut is also a sign of strong intuition.
“A gut feeling can be the conscious signal of something your brain recognized before you could put it into words,” Dr. McGeehan says. “That’s why intuitive people often learn to pay attention when they get one. It’s also, at its base level, an easy way to make quick decisions and stay out of the anxiety of being unsure about something.”
Still, she suggests using your gut as one data point, while still asking yourself, “What might I be noticing?” Then, look for more evidence.
“Intuition tends to be most useful in areas where we have meaningful experience and have had opportunities to learn from feedback,” she adds.
5. You notice inconsistencies
Intuitive people may hear “I’m fine” and know otherwise because the person’s behavior doesn’t align with their words.
“Others may call this overanalyzing, but detecting discrepancies can be valuable. Just remember: noticing a discrepancy isn’t the same as knowing what caused it,” Dr. McGeehan explains. “And ultimately, each person knows their reality best. Even the most adept and intuitive person cannot know someone better than they know themselves.”
6. You ask questions after everyone else has moved on
Case closed? Not quite, says your intuition.
“Sometimes an intuitive person knows something doesn’t quite fit before they know why,” Dr. McGeehan notes. “That can look obsessive or unnecessarily skeptical, but investigating those inconsistencies can uncover information others missed.”
7. You sleep on decisions
Today’s fast-paced society may demand immediate decisions, but people with strong intuition may balk at the idea. They may want to “sleep on it.”
“This can look indecisive, but stepping away from a complex decision sometimes allows information to settle and subtler concerns to emerge,” Dr. McGeehan states. “It becomes problematic when taking more time turns into chronic avoidance.”
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The Crucial Difference: Is It Intuition or Anxiety?
Intuition vs. anxiety: Which is it? That’s a good question.
“Intuition tends to flag something for investigation; anxiety tends to demand certainty,” Dr. McGeehan states.
For instance, she says your intuition might say, “Something about this situation doesn’t fit— let me figure out what I’m noticing.” On the other hand, she says that anxiety more often spirals into “what if” scenarios, and you keep searching for danger even after you receive reassurance.
“The reality is that we can never truly have certainty over most anything,” she explains. “So if a feeling is pushing for that certainty, I encourage folks to understand it as anxiety. At its core, anxiety is about protection and fear, so it makes sense that it’ll pull someone toward certainty.”
One useful question you can ask is, “When I investigate this feeling, do I gain clarity—or just find more things to worry about?”
“Strong intuition isn’t believing every feeling you have,” Dr. McGeehan states. “It’s learning to notice your internal signals, get curious about where they’re coming from and know when to pair them with deliberate reasoning.”
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Sources:
- Dr. Brittany McGeehan, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and performance coach.
- The somatic marker hypothesis and the possible functions of the prefrontal cortex. (1996) Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London.
