scoresvideos
Social Psychology
Table of Contents
Unit 3 Overview: Social Cognition
3.1 Information Processing and Social Schemas
3.2 Heuristics and Biases in Social Judgment
3.3 Automatic and Controlled Processing
3.4 Social Memory and Decision Making

🎠social psychology review

3.3 Automatic and Controlled Processing

Citation:

Our brains use two thinking systems: quick and automatic System 1, and slow, effortful System 2. These systems interact constantly, shaping how we process information and make decisions in our daily lives.

Understanding implicit and explicit cognition reveals how unconscious influences affect our behavior. Priming and automaticity demonstrate the power of implicit processes in shaping our thoughts and actions, often without our awareness.

Dual-Process Theory

Two Systems of Thinking

  • Dual-process theory proposes two distinct systems of cognitive processing operate in the human mind
  • System 1 thinking functions automatically and quickly with little or no effort
  • System 1 generates impressions, feelings, and inclinations without conscious awareness
  • System 2 thinking allocates attention to effortful mental activities that demand concentration
  • System 2 often associated with subjective experiences of agency, choice, and concentration

Characteristics and Functions

  • System 1 operates intuitively and involuntarily (recognizing faces, understanding simple sentences)
  • System 2 requires deliberate attention and effort (solving complex math problems, logical reasoning)
  • Cognitive load refers to the total amount of mental effort being used in working memory
  • High cognitive load can impair System 2 functioning, leading to increased reliance on System 1
  • Cognitive load affects decision-making processes and information processing capabilities

Interactions and Implications

  • System 1 and System 2 interact continuously during waking cognition
  • System 2 can override System 1's automatic responses when necessary
  • Overriding requires effort and is not always successful, especially under high cognitive load
  • Understanding dual-process theory helps explain biases and errors in judgment and decision-making
  • Applications of dual-process theory found in fields like behavioral economics and social psychology

Implicit and Explicit Cognition

Defining Implicit and Explicit Processes

  • Implicit cognition involves unconscious influences on behavior and judgment
  • Implicit processes operate automatically without conscious awareness or control
  • Explicit cognition involves conscious, intentional thought processes
  • Explicit processes require deliberate effort and awareness
  • Distinction between implicit and explicit cognition aligns with dual-process theory

Priming and Its Effects

  • Priming occurs when exposure to one stimulus influences response to a subsequent stimulus
  • Implicit priming happens without conscious awareness (subliminal messages affecting behavior)
  • Explicit priming involves conscious awareness of the prime (being told to think about a concept)
  • Priming can affect perceptions, judgments, and behaviors in various domains (social interactions, consumer choices)
  • Priming effects demonstrate the power of implicit cognition in shaping our thoughts and actions

Automaticity in Cognitive Processes

  • Automaticity refers to cognitive processes that occur without conscious control or effort
  • Automatic processes develop through repeated practice and experience
  • Characteristics of automatic processes include being unintentional, uncontrollable, and efficient
  • Examples of automaticity include reading words, riding a bicycle, and habitual behaviors
  • Automaticity allows for efficient cognitive processing but can lead to errors or biases in certain situations

Key Terms to Review (16)

Heuristic processing: Heuristic processing refers to a mental shortcut that allows individuals to make quick judgments and decisions based on limited information or cognitive resources. This type of processing is often automatic and relies on rules of thumb, biases, or past experiences, enabling people to navigate complex situations efficiently but sometimes at the expense of accuracy. Heuristic processing contrasts with more deliberate and effortful analytical thinking, allowing for faster decision-making in everyday life.
Systematic Processing: Systematic processing is a cognitive approach where individuals carefully and thoughtfully analyze information, often using logical reasoning to evaluate arguments and evidence. This type of processing is typically associated with higher levels of motivation and ability, leading to more deliberate and informed decision-making. When engaged in systematic processing, people are less likely to rely on mental shortcuts and biases, allowing for a more thorough understanding of complex situations.
Self-Regulation: Self-regulation is the ability to control one's thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in pursuit of long-term goals. It involves the process of monitoring oneself, setting standards for behavior, and exerting control to achieve those standards. This concept is essential in understanding how people manage impulses and make choices, impacting decision-making processes and outcomes in various situations.
Deliberate Reasoning: Deliberate reasoning refers to the conscious and effortful process of analyzing information, evaluating options, and making decisions based on logical thought and reflection. This type of reasoning stands in contrast to automatic processing, as it involves active engagement and a thorough examination of facts rather than relying on intuition or quick judgments.
Cognitive Biases: Cognitive biases are systematic patterns of deviation from norm or rationality in judgment, where individuals create their own 'subjective reality' based on their perceptions. These biases influence how we think, make decisions, and process information, often leading us to make judgments that are not based on objective facts. Understanding cognitive biases is crucial as they can affect both automatic and controlled processing in our minds, shaping how we interpret experiences and respond to various situations.
Impression Formation: Impression formation refers to the process by which individuals create opinions and judgments about others based on available information, including behavior, appearance, and communication. This process involves both automatic and controlled cognitive mechanisms that help us evaluate people quickly or in a more thoughtful manner. The way we form impressions can significantly influence our social interactions and relationships, especially when considering how initial impressions often set the tone for future perceptions.
Implicit Cognition: Implicit cognition refers to the mental processes that occur automatically and without conscious awareness, influencing attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. This type of cognition operates outside of our conscious thought, allowing for quick evaluations and responses to stimuli based on learned associations and past experiences. It contrasts with explicit cognition, which involves deliberate thought and awareness.
Explicit Cognition: Explicit cognition refers to the conscious and intentional thought processes that individuals use when they analyze information, make decisions, or solve problems. This type of cognition involves awareness and is often deliberate, allowing people to reflect on their thoughts and adjust their reasoning as needed. Explicit cognition is essential for tasks that require careful consideration, such as making judgments or evaluating evidence.
Stereotyping: Stereotyping refers to the cognitive process of attributing specific characteristics or traits to individuals based solely on their membership in a particular group. This mental shortcut allows people to simplify the complex social world but can lead to inaccuracies and reinforce biases, affecting how we perceive others and interact with them.
Automaticity: Automaticity refers to the ability of a behavior or cognitive process to occur without conscious awareness or intention. This means that certain actions, once learned or practiced, can be performed quickly and efficiently, often without needing to think about them. Automaticity plays a key role in how we navigate our daily lives, allowing us to perform routine tasks while focusing on other things.
Cognitive Load: Cognitive load refers to the total amount of mental effort being used in working memory. It is crucial in understanding how we process information and influences learning and performance. The concept helps differentiate between the various types of cognitive processing, such as automatic and controlled processing, and highlights how our cognitive resources can be strained when tasks become complex or demanding.
Dual-Process Theory: Dual-Process Theory refers to the concept that human thinking operates through two distinct systems: an automatic, fast, and intuitive system (System 1) and a controlled, slow, and analytical system (System 2). This theory highlights how people can navigate decision-making and judgment by utilizing both processes, often leading to heuristics in social judgment, where cognitive shortcuts can influence perceptions and behaviors.
Priming: Priming is a psychological phenomenon where exposure to a stimulus influences a person's subsequent thoughts, feelings, or behaviors without conscious awareness. This process can activate certain associations in memory, making related concepts more accessible and influencing how we interpret new information and make decisions. It plays a crucial role in automatic processing, where responses are generated quickly and with little effort based on previously encountered stimuli.
Automatic Processing: Automatic processing refers to the unconscious and effortless way in which the brain handles information, allowing for quick and efficient processing of stimuli without the need for focused attention. This type of processing enables individuals to perform tasks or respond to situations with minimal cognitive effort, relying on learned associations and previous experiences. It contrasts with controlled processing, where conscious thought and effort are required to analyze information and make decisions.
Controlled Processing: Controlled processing refers to the deliberate, conscious, and effortful way of thinking and processing information. It involves active analysis and reflection on a task, leading to thoughtful decisions and judgments. This type of processing is often used in complex situations where careful reasoning is required, in contrast to automatic processing, which is more instinctual and less effortful.
Heuristics: Heuristics are mental shortcuts or rules of thumb that simplify decision-making processes and problem-solving. They help individuals make quick judgments and decisions by relying on past experiences, common sense, or readily available information, rather than engaging in extensive analysis. This concept is crucial in understanding human behavior, as it illustrates how people often use these mental shortcuts to navigate complex social environments, which connects to various psychological domains.