Dual Processing Theory

Question 1

Define thinking.

Answer 1

Thinking is the process of using knowledge and information to make plans, interpret the world, and make predictions about the world in general.

Question 2

Define decision making.

Answer 2

Decision making is defined as the process of identifying and choosing alternatives based on the values and preferences of the decision-maker.
Decision making is needed during problem-solving to reach the conclusion.

Question 3

What are the two systems of thinking? Give a brief description.

Answer 3

System 1:
- Automatic, fast, unconscious
- Heuristic, ‘hot’ (emotions and stereotypes)
System 2:
- Controlled, slow, conscious
- Algorithmic, ‘cold’ (logical, systematic)

Question 4

Define heuristics.

Answer 4

Mental short-cuts that involve focusing on one aspect of a complex problem and ignoring others.

Question 5

Why is system 1 thinking used?

Answer 5

Allows efficient processing of the complex world around us, however may be prone to errors.

Question 6

Why is system 2 thinking used?

Answer 6

Allows us to analyse the world around us and think carefully about what is happening, why it is happening, what is most likely to happen next and how we might influence the situation.

Question 7

Outline strengths of the dual processing model.

Answer 7

• Biological evidence that different types of thinking may be processed in different parts of the brain.
• The distinction between system 1 and system 2 thinking is well supported by research.
• The theory can explain why intelligent people can sometimes make poor decisions whenever they rely on system 1 to come up with a fast, effortless (but sometimes wrong) decisions.

Question 8

Outline the limitations of dual processing model.

Answer 8

• Model is overly reductionist and doesn’t explain how these modes of thinking interact or how our thinking and decision making could be influenced by emotion.
• The definitions of System 1 and System 2 are not always clear.
• However, System 1 and System 2 must be understood as simply being metaphors for different decision making processes. There are not actually two different parts of the brain called “System 1” and “System 2”. In fact, many parts of the brain are involved in both System 1 and System 2 thinking.
• Not all researchers agree that there are two systems. Some alternate models of thinking have suggested that there are four (or more) different systems of thinking.