Dual process theory

What is Dual Process Theory?

Proposes that decision making and behaviour is based on 2 distinct mental systems — System 1 (automatic) and System 2 (deliberate)

What is System 1 thinking?

Automatic, effortless decision making/thinking → based on past experiences and schemas.

• Brain's autopilot using heuristics (mental shortcuts to solve something)

Explain why is System 1 used?

• Humans are cognitive misers → want to solve things using least effort possible.

• When cognitive load (effort used by STM) is too high → less energy is used to solve something

What is System 2 thinking?

Effortful, deliberate thinking using rationality → slow, requiring effort and concentration.

• Based on logic based decisions

Explain why is System 2 used?

• When System 1 can't solve the issue/problem

• When there is less cognitive load and pressure → space for System 2 to activate

Give a real life application of System 1 and System 2

Driving:

• When driving a habitual route and you have experience with driving → System 1 (Automatic)

• If a detour is required or you use a new car even if you are experienced → System 2 is needed as situation is unfamiliar

Explain the Wason card task and Griggs and Cox

Aim: Investigate system 1 & system 2 thinking in reasoning task

Procedure:

Wason (abstact task): 4 cards (3, 8, Red, Brown) & asked to follow logical rule

• Rule: If card is even then opposite face is red, what card you flip to test rule?

Griggs & Cox (concrete): 4 cards (Beer, coke, age 16, age 22) & asked to test logical rule

• Rule: If person drinks beer must be 18+

Conclusion: Most people matched wrong card in abstract (Watson) task compared to concrete task (Griggs & Cox)

• Showcases how system 1 (quick thinking) thinking works better in real life application → Allows for reliance on pre-build schema’s

• Most participants did not use system 2 thinking → supports theory that we are cognitive misers (want to use least effort to sovle task)

What are the strengths and limitations of the Wason and Griggs & Cox experiment?

+ Controlled conditions in both experiments → reliability.

+ Cox uses real life examples → higher ecological validity compared to Wason.

-- WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich, and Democratic) sample → limits generalisability.

-- Demand characteristics → participants knew aim → Could’ve activated System 2 to seem socially desirable rather than naturally using System 1

What are the strengths and limitations of Dual Process Theory?

+Explains everyday cognitive errors → e.g. why people fall for ads.

+ Supported by multiple studies → reliability.

-- Oversimplified → thinking does not have to be fast (S.1) or slow (S.2) → in reality both can blend.

-- Ignores other factors on decision making

• i.e emotions in decision making