Clare Walsh L3 Flashcards
The function of reasoning
- Apply knowledge to new situations
- Enable us to think hypothetically
- Enable us to evaluate
- Fundamental to human intelligence and infrastructure
Inductive Reasoning
Specific cases to a general rule - pattern -> prediction
Abductive reasoning
Generation in explanation
Deductive reasoning
When we take rules and draw inferences
Syllogistic reasoning
Proposition 1 - Proposition 2 has something in common with Proposition 1 - From this a conclusion can be drawn
Propositional reasoning
Reasoning is a semantic process based on mental models
Formal rules theory R
Rips (1983) - Recover abstract form from context -> access relevant rules -> derive conclusion
Evidence/Criticism of formal rules theory
Difficulty and time to respond - content influences performance
Mental models theory JL
Johnson-Laird (1983) - People construct situational models - models are limited by working memory
Evidence/criticism of mental models theory?
The more inferences the more difficult the task - content influences performance
Evidence/criticism of mental models theory?
The more inferences the more difficult the task - content influences performance
Pragmatic reasoning schemas C&H
Cheng and Holyoak, 1985 - If an action is taken then the pre-condition must be satisfied
Cheater Detection C
Cosmides (1989) - Evolutionary rule that if one takes a benefit, they must take a loss
Counterfactual Thinking
The imagination of alternative realities - expressed in the form of a conditional (if)
When do we generate counterfactuals?
Frequently, early childhood, in every culture, Exception for individuals with injury in PFC
S&T counterfactuals
Sanna and Turley (1996) - counterfactuals are generated when experiencing negative outcomes and potentially unexpected outcomes
When do we generate counterfactuals?
Closeness in time, space or numerics
Individual differences in which counterfactuals are generated more:
Low mood
Guilt + Shame + disappointment
Wanting to undo actions
Wanting to undo a personal quality
Wanting to undo uncontrollable events
Counterfactuals and Blame M
(Macrae, 1992) - people attribute more blame to preceding unusual actions and so alternatives are easier though of
Judgements of luck
The chance happening of fortunate or adverse events - luck used to mean narrowly avoiding a certain outcome
Learning from mistakes CFs
- Individuals who will have to repeat a task generate more upward counterfactuals
- Counterfactual thinking can influence behaviour - improved performance
Functions of CF thinking
Attributions of blame, Judgements of luck, CF emotions, Intentions for future and Decision making
CF and brain deficits DLPFC
Could explain inflexible behaviour, uncreativity, planning difficulty
