Dual Process Theory 2.0

Wim De Neys

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN: 9781138700628
• eBook ISBN: 9781351791366
• Topic: Psychology
• Subtopic: Cognitive Psychology & Cognition
• Index: Psychology

Dual Process Theory 2.0 provides a comprehensive overview of the new directions in which dual process research is heading. Human thinking is often characterized as an interplay between intuition and deliberation and this two-headed, dual process view of human thinking has been very influential in the cognitive sciences and popular media. However, despite the popularity of the dual process framework it faces multiple challenges.

Recent advances indicate that there is a strong need to re-think some of the fundamental assumptions of the original dual process model. With chapters written by leading scholars who have been actively involved in the development of an upgraded 'Dual Process Theory 2.0', this edited volume presents an accessible overview of the latest empirical findings and theoretical ideas..

With cutting edge insights on the interaction between intuition and deliberation, Dual Process Theory 2.0 should be of interest to psychologists, philosophers, and economists who are using dual process models.

1
Dual Process Theory 2.0

An introduction

Wim De Neys

Background

Human thinking is often characterized as an interplay between intuition and deliberation. Sometimes a solution to a problem pops up in our minds without any effort. At other times, arriving at a sound conclusion will take time and laborious inferencing. These types of reasoning are often referred to as intuitive and deliberate thinking. Intuitive thinking is effortless and fast. It provides us with problem solutions in the blink of an eye. Deliberative thinking is slower and burdens our cognitive resources, but will sometimes be indispensable to correct the output of our intuitions. Indeed, many cases of biased decision-making – from bad financial investments to racial or gender-based discrimination in job hiring – have been attributed to a failure to switch from intuitive to deliberate thinking. This two-headed, dual process view of human thinking has been very influential in the cognitive sciences and popular media. Examples range from the Nobel Prize–winning work of Daniel Kahneman to the best-selling popular science writing of Malcolm Gladwell.

However, despite the popularity of the dual process framework, it faces multiple challenges. A key issue that has long bothered dual process theorists is that the precise interaction between intuitive and deliberate thought processes (or System 1 and System 2, as they are often referred to) is not well understood. There is little dispute that sometimes intuitions can be helpful and sometimes deliberation is required to arrive at a conclusion. But how does our reasoning engine decide which route to take? Are both processes activated simultaneously from the start, or do we initially rely on the intuitive system and switch to deliberate processing when it is needed? But how do we know whether deliberation is needed and determine whether merely relying on our intuitions is warranted or not? What mechanism signals the need for more deliberate reflection?

In recent years empirical work has started to address these outstanding issues. This has resulted in theoretical advances that indicate that there is a need to re-think fundamental assumptions of the original dual process model. The aim of this edited Dual Process 2.0 volume is to give the reader a comprehensive overview of these new directions in which dual process research is heading.

Book structure

The book consists of nine chapters. The seven chapters that follow this brief introduction are all written by leading experts who have been actively involved in the experimental testing and development of the dual process framework in the last years. The chapters present an accessible overview of their main findings, the theoretical modifications they propose, and discussion of pressing issues and challenges. In the closing chapter, Jonathan Evans presents a reflection on the evolutions that are highlighted in the book.

Chapter overview

Chapter 2

A perspective on the theoretical foundation of dual process models

Gordon Pennycook (Yale University, USA)

In his thought-provoking chapter Pennycook lays out what he views to be the core theoretical groundwork for future dual process models. He draws on these foundations and parallels them with the executive functioning literature to outline an updated framework.

Chapter 3

The parallel processing model of belief bias: review and extensions

Dries Trippas (Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Germany) and Simon J. Handley (Macquarie University, Australia)

In their chapter Trippas and Handley describe how the classic Stroop effect inspired them to introduce a new reasoning paradigm in which participants have to switch between belief-based and logic-based thinking. They clarify how this led them to present a new dual process model in which multiple problem features are processed simultaneously from the start. The chapter presents a comprehensive overview of the core assumptions and critical empirical tests.

Chapter 4

Bias, conflict, and fast logic: towards a hybrid dual process future?

Wim De Neys (CNRS & Université Sorbonne Paris Cité, France)

In my personal chapter contribution, I present the basic dual process model that I believe to be supported by my own empirical findings and the work of many of the contributors to this volume. I review critical findings from my team and discuss outstanding questions and issues.

Chapter 5

Comparing dual process theories: evidence from event-related potentials

Adrian P. Banks (University of Surrey, UK)

Banks and his collaborators have pioneered the use of event-related potentials (ERP) to test dual process theories of reasoning. ERP research has the potential to tap fast intuitive processes that can be difficult to investigate using behavioural paradigms. In his chapter Banks reviews the relevant ERP literature and shows how his findings favour a model in which logic and belief are processed in parallel by fast System 1 processes.

Chapter 6

The fuzzy-trace dual process model

Valerie F. Reyna, Shahin Rahimi-Golkhandan, David M. N. Garavito, and Rebecca K. Helm (Cornell University, USA)

Reyna and collaborators present an overview of their fuzzy-trace dual process framework. The unique cornerstone of the fuzzy-trace approach lies in the distinction – inspired by classic psycholinguistics – between verbatim and gist-based representations of presented information. Within this framework, intuitive gist-based processing is placed at the apex of advanced thinking. Reyna et al. present an extensive overview of the wide range of studies that tested the fuzzy-trace predictions.

Chapter 7

Conflict and dual process theory: the case of belief bias

Linden J. Ball (University of Central Lancashire, UK), Valerie A. Thompson (University of Saskatchewan, Canada), and Edward J. N. Stupple (University of Derby, UK)

Traditional dual process theories were heavily inspired by research on the belief bias effect in syllogistic reasoning. Ball et al. present an overview of this literature and recent challenges to the traditional dual process model of belief bias. They sketch the core tenets of an attempt to reconcile the traditional framework with the contradictory challenges.

Chapter 8

Logical intuitions and other conundra for dual process theories

Valerie A. Thompson and Ian R. Newman (University of Saskatchewan, Canada)

Thompson and Newman review how recent findings have challenged three pillars of the traditional dual process framework with respect to the speed, sequence, and cognitive capacity dependency of intuitive and deliberate processing. They discuss key implications and questions for the future of dual process research.

Chapter 9

Dual process theory: perspectives and problems

Jonathan St B. T. Evans (Plymouth University, UK)

As an editor, I am very grateful that Jonathan Evans agreed to write the closing chapter to this volume. Jonathan is widely considered the godfather of the standard dual process model that has come to dominate the field. Various contributors to this book indicate that there is a need to revise key features of this model and re-think our conceptualization of the way intuition and deliberation interact. Although Jonathan is now officially retired, he agreed to use the chapter to comment on these new developments. He points to possible misconceptions and ways to integrate the recent findings in the default-interventionist model that he favours.

In closing

Taken together, I believe that the book presents an excellent overview of the state of the art of the dual process field. My hope is that the volume will help to familiarize the wide range of psychologists, philosophers, and economists who have grown an interest in dual process models with the latest insights and discussions. At the same time, the book should also make it clear that the field is still in full development and the last word on key debates has not been said. More work is definitely needed. I hope that the book will stimulate at least some readers to join in this exciting journey.

2
A Perspective on the Theoretical Foundation of Dual Process Models

Gordon Pennycook

Overview

Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.

– Aristotle (384–322 BCE)

Where the senses fail us, reason must step in.

– Galileo Galilei (1564–1642 ACE)

The heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing.

– Blaise Pascal (1623–1662 ACE)

Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe.

– Voltaire (1694–1778 ACE)

Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions, and can never pretend to any other office than to serve and obey them.

– David Hume (1711–1776 ACE)

Dual process theories formalize a salient feature of human cognition: we have the capacity to rapidly formulate answers to questions, but we sometimes engage in deliberate reasoning processes before responding. It does not require deliberative thought to respond to the question “what is your name.” It did, however, require some thinking to write this paragr...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• CONTENTS
• Contributors
• 1 Dual process theory 2.0: an introduction
• 2 A perspective on the theoretical foundation of dual process models
• 3 The parallel processing model of belief bias: review and extensions
• 4 Bias, conflict, and fast logic: towards a hybrid dual process future?
• 5 Comparing dual process theories: evidence from event-related potentials
• 6 The fuzzy-trace dual process model
• 7 Conflict and dual process theory: the case of belief bias
• 8 Logical intuitions and other conundra for dual process theories
• 9 Dual process theory: perspectives and problems
• Index