Thinking & Decision Making: Dual Process Model

Thinking Attention paid to particular stimuli The process of using knowledge and understanding to interpret and predict the world around you How is this related to Schema Theory?

Decision Making Definition: The process of identifying and choosing alternatives based on values and preferences Needed during problem solving to reach a solution Problem-solving utilizes mental strategies to solve specific issues

The Dual Process Model of thinking Stanovich and West (2000) Two basic modes of thinking System 1: automatic, intuitive 'fast,' make a decision quickly Might be prone to errors System 2: Slower, conscious, rational Considers other possibilities Analyze the situation

System 1 vs. System 2 *Because System 1 works faster, it often interferes with System 2's processing. System 1  System 2  Context dependent - focuses on existing evidence and ignores absent evidence  Abstract  Concerns everyday decision making  Conscious reasoning  Generates impressions and inclinations.  Logical and reliable  Not logic based and prone to error  Slow and requiring effort  Operates automatically and quickly with little or no effort  Transfers information from one situation to a new situation. 

Wason selection Task-1968 Aim: to explore confirmation bias (he loved deductive reasoning) Procedure: present puzzles to the participants to see how they 'reasoned' the answers Results: Most people got the puzzle wrong Even when he trained them, they still got them wrong LATER RESEARCH: When the task is not abstract, System 1 works just fine in solving the problem. Implications:  System 1 works quickly and interferes with System 2's analysis

Evaluation of the Model Strengths Limitations Biological evidence that it may be system 1 and system 2 could be localized in different areas (Goel, 2000) Wason Selection task and other cognitive biases are reliable Overly reductionist Definitions of system 1 and system 2 not always clear ('faster'??)