Learning and False Memory

Question 1

What is meant by System 1 in terms of systems of thinking? and how does it work?

Answer 1

Automatic processing system, we are not aware of it, but it does much of the work in our daily life, essentially System 1 makes coherent sense out of patterns in our everyday world – looks for cause and effect

Question 2

System 1 Examples

Answer 2

• Notice one object is larger than another
• Recognize the taste of strawberries
• Tie your shoes
• Recognize someone is angry
• Answer the question “2 + 2”
• Tell a friend how much you like this class
• Read this list

Question 3

What is meant by System 2 in terms of systems of thinking? and how does it work?

Answer 3

Conscious system that we must purposefully engage and takes effort, we are aware of it, essentially we engage it when making decisions that cannot be done through automatic processing – it is orderly, step by step

Question 4

System 2 examples

Answer 4

• Measure exactly how much larger one object is than another
• Make strawberry shortcake for the first time
• Get a knot out of your shoes
• Compare two cell phones for overall value
• Answer the question “17 x 34”
• Tell a friend the three most important things you learned in this class
• Memorize this list

Question 5

What are some limitations of System 1?

Answer 5

Engages in shortcuts that usually work, but sometimes do not. These shortcuts are called “heuristics” and can lead to biases in decision making

Question 6

What are some limitations of System 2?

Answer 6

May lack enough capacity, gets tired or cannot make full effort for another reason, may not have the information it needs

Question 7

What are heuristics? Which System typically uses heuristics?

Answer 7

Heuristics are a type of shortcut whereby a simpler decision making process is substituted for a more complex one. Of course, when System 1 makes the substitution, we are not aware of it, so we may think we are using the more complex (rational) process, but instead are using the heuristic. System 1 uses heuristics. It is an effective strategy because they save time and are usually accurate

Question 8

What are cognitive illusions and how did Kahneman and Tversky use cognitive illusions in their research?