PSYC 2120 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Dual Process Theory, Unconscious Mind, Social Cognition

• School: York University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 2120
• Professor: Ward Struthers

Document Summary

The why of social cognition: the motives behind thinking. A(cid:272)(cid:272)ordi(cid:374)g to arie krugla(cid:374)ski"s theor(cid:455) of la(cid:455) episte(cid:373)olog(cid:455), three (cid:373)oti(cid:448)es i(cid:374)flue(cid:374)(cid:272)e our (cid:272)o(cid:374)(cid:272)lusio(cid:374)s. The need for accurate knowledge: a motivation to achieve an accurate, truthful understanding of a given person, idea, or event. We often want to reach a particular conclusion, thus, people are also motivated toward nonspeicifc and specific forms of closure. A desire to achieve an accurate understanding/activated when being inaccurate oculd result in undesired outcomes. The need for nonspecific closure: we reach closure when we stop the thought process and grab the first handy judgment or decision, quickly and without extensive effort. By nonspecific, the person does not hae a strong preference for one conclusion over another rather, she desires a conclusion-any conclusion. Feeling uncertain, confused, or ambivalent can at times feel unpleasant and even frightening. This closure usually takes priority in situations where thinking involves a lot of effort or is otherwise unpleasant.