Thinking and Decision Making

Overview

• Thinking and decision-making are interconnected cognitive processes.
  • Thinking is needed to make decisions.
• Can be studied as separate concepts, but often intertwined in psychological theories.

Stanovich and West (2000) Model of Thinking

System 1 Thinking

• Characteristics:
  • Fast
  • Automatic
  • Effortless
  • Intuitive
• Often uses heuristics:
  • Mental shortcuts focusing on one aspect of a complex problem.
  • Allows efficient processing but prone to errors if assumptions don't match reality.
• Gives a sense of satisfaction and confidence.

System 2 Thinking

• Characteristics:
  • Slow
  • Controlled
  • Effortful
  • Rational
• Involves careful analysis:
  • Gradually eliminates possibilities based on evidence.
  • Allows for careful analysis of situations.
• Less likely to create feelings of certitude.

Wason Task (1968)

• Tests the dual process model of thinking and decision-making.
• Involves flipping cards to fulfill a certain rule.
• Investigates the role of intuitive (System 1) and rational thinking (System 2).

Study 1: Griggs and Cox (1982)

• Aim: Investigate whether matching bias (System 1) is less used when tasks are personally relevant.
• Procedure:
  • Sample: 144 undergraduates in six groups.
  • Tasks given in a workbook: Abstract, Intermediate, and Memory Cueing.
• Results:
  • Abstract task: 3% solved correctly.
  • Intermediate task: 43% solved correctly.
  • Memory Cueing task: 60% solved correctly.
• Conclusion: Use of System 1 (intuition) increases with abstract tasks.
• Evaluation:
  • Highly artificial, low ecological validity.
  • Independent measures design may show order effects.

Link

• Demonstrates the relevance of System 2 thinking in personally relevant tasks, using logic and prior knowledge.
• Highlights System 1's role in abstract tasks, relying on intuition and speed.

Study 2: Goel et al (2000)

• Aim: To provide a biological basis of memory processing in different brain parts.
• Procedure:
  • Participants perform logic tasks in an fMRI.
  • Tasks: Abstract vs. Concrete.
• Results:
  • Abstract tasks activate parietal lobe.
  • Concrete tasks activate left hemisphere temporal lobe.
• Conclusion: Supports System 1 and System 2 model, different brain areas involved.
• Evaluation:
  • High validity due to technology use (fMRI).
  • Lacks ecological validity due to lab setting.
  • May not reflect real-life problem-solving accurately.

Link

• Biological support for System 1 & 2 thinking.
• Different brain areas process abstract and concrete tasks differently, supporting dual process theory.

Long Answer Question (LAQ) Preparation

• Theory: Explain dual processing model:
  • Systems of thinking.
  • Impact on daily life.
• Study 1: Griggs and Cox
  • System 1 leads to intuitive thinking and biases.
  • Highlights distinction between systems.
• Topic Sentence 2: Neural basis of thinking systems.
  • System 1 linked to parietal lobe, spatial thinking.
  • Environment may influence system selection.
• Study Evaluation: Consider application to real-life situations.