MODULO 3 INGLESE

PRESENTATION

the languages of cognitive psychology

Dual-Processing Accounts of Reasoning, Judgment, and Social Cognition

I. INTRODUCTION

Our minds wander frequently, especially when trying to focus, and this is linked to how our brain processes attention. In "Duel-Processing Accounts of Reasoning, Judgment, and Social Cognition" Jonathan St. B. T. Evans categorizes cognitive processes into two systems:- SYSTEM 1, automatic, fast, and intuitive (processes are unconscious); - SYSTEM 2, deliberate, slow, and analytical (processes are conscious)

II. FEATURES ATTRIBUTED TO DUAL PROCESSES AND SYSYEM

CONSCIOUSNESS

AGE OF EVOLUTION

FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES

The experiment conducted on the chimpanzee Sultan that focused on problem solving and insight.

III. APPLICATIONS OF DUAL-PROCESS THEORIES

DECISION MAKING

SOCIAL COGNITION

REASONING

Kahneman and Frederick developed a dual-process theory for probability judgment, linking System 1’s heuristic judgments to biases and asserting that System 2’s analytic reasoning can enhance these judgments. Intuitive responses from System 1 often serve as default reactions, which System 2 may support.Conflicts between intuitive and reflective processes can arise in behaviors like phobias and compulsions, leading to feelings of irrationality. Some researchers describe this internal struggle as having “TWO MINDS” or a “brain at war with itself.”

Dual-process theories of social cognition emerged in the 1980s, focusing on how individuals automatically and unconsciously process social information, including perceptions of others, stereotype use, and attitude changes. There are two cognitive systems: • Experiential system (System 1), which is older and linked to animal thinking. • Rational system (System 2), which is newer and unique to humans. Studies in social cognitive neuroscience connect these processes to different brain systems: the X-system for reflexive, automatic processing and the C-system for reflective thinking.

Peter Wason significantly shaped the psychology of deductive reasoning in the 1960s and 1970s, with the field evolving to focus on contextual factors and prior beliefs rather than solely on formal logic. The debate has centered around two main theories: • Mental Logic Theory, which uses abstract inference rules to explain reasoning. • Mental Model Theory, which asserts that an argument is valid if no counterexamples exist. Both theories address how pragmatics and cognitive differences influence reasoning accuracy.

Project by: Molitierno Morena A29004891, Settembrese Angela A29004698, Ponticiello Francesco A29004679

FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Conscious thought is inherently sequential, whereas the rapid processing of System reflects use of parallel processes. System 1 processes are concrete, contextualized, or domain-specific, whereas System 2 processes are abstract, de-contextualized, or domain-general, but although abstract reasoning requires the use of System 2, concrete contexts do not preclude its application. For this reason, System 2 is defined as “analytic” or “systematic”.

CONSCIOUSNESS

• Freud introduced the idea of an unconscious mind driven by innate desires and repressed emotions. • Behaviorists focused on learning processes, excluding consciousness from their theories. • Cognitive science later recognized a “cognitive unconscious,” where complex information processing occurs without awareness. Dual-process theories highlight two concepts of consciousness: awareness and volition, suggesting that conscious thought is slower and limited in capacity, relying on unconscious processes for perceptions and memories. However, research indicates that unconscious processes can govern behavior without awareness, and conscious reasoning often fabricates justifications for these behaviors. The distinction between automatic and controlled cognition is significant, particularly in higher-order thinking, where individuals may experience a conflict between intuition and reason.

AGE OF EVOLUTION

System 2 is thought to be associated with distinctively human capacities: language, reflective consciousness, higher-order control and the capacity to think about the future. Instead, System 1 cognition, shared with other animals, continues to control much of our behavior. However, there is considerable evidence of a distinction between stimulus-bound and higher-order control process in many higher animals.

INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES

Some dual-process theorists suggest a connection between System 2 processing and general intelligence, positing that System 1 processes are independent of it. This perspective has prompted research into individual differences, particularly focusing on working memory and developmental age. Evidence shows a strong correlation between working memory capacity and general intelligence. Controlled cognitive processing aligns with individual differences in intelligence and working memory, while automatic processing does not. The individual differences approach distinguishes between cognitive capacity (what individuals can do) and dispositional styles (what they tend to do).