IB Psychology Topic Thinking and Decision-making Revision Notes (SL/HL)

IB Psychology Topic Thinking and Decision-making Revision Notes (SL/HL) | RevisionDojo

Written by official IB examiners

The Dual Processing Model (DPM)

Definition

Dual Processing Model

Humans think and make decisions by categorizing their cognitive processes into two systems:

System 1: Fast, automatic, unconscious, and intuitive. It relies on past experiences and heuristics.
System 2: Slow, deliberate, conscious, and rational. It involves logical reasoning and evaluating consequences.

These systems affect judgment, which, in turn, impacts thinking and decision-making.

Key Studies

Case study

Representativeness Heuristic: Kahneman and Tversky (1974)

Aim: To investigate how people use heuristics (mental shortcuts) in decision-making.

Method: Participants were asked which of two hospitals (one large, one small) was more likely to report a higher percentage of boys born on a given day.

Procedure:

Participants were presented with the following scenario:
A larger hospital records about 45 births daily, while a smaller hospital records about 15. Both hospitals record the days on which more than 60% of births are boys.
Question: Which hospital is more likely to record such days?

Results:

The smaller hospital is statistically more likely due to smaller sample size variability.
78% of participants incorrectly answered, relying on System 1 (intuition) instead of System 2 (logic).

Conclusion: This study highlights the dominance of System 1 when people rely on heuristics, such as the representativeness heuristic, in decision-making.

Case study

Bechara et al. (2000) - The Iowa Gambling Task

Aim: To explore the role of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) in decision-making.

Method: Experimental study using the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT).

Participants: Healthy controls and individuals with vmPFC lesions.

Procedure:

Participants played a card game with two types of decks:
1. "Safe" decks: Low short-term rewards but better long-term gains.
2. "Risky" decks: High short-term rewards but significant long-term losses.
Participants chose cards over multiple trials.

Results:

Healthy participants learned to avoid risky decks, relying on System 2 to analyze outcomes.
vmPFC-damaged participants continually chose risky decks, acting impulsively and relying on System 1.

Conclusion: The vmPFC plays a critical role in overriding impulsive decisions (System 1) by engaging in rational analysis (System 2).

Heuristics

Definition

Heuristics

Heuristics are cognitive shortcuts that simplify decision-making but can lead to biases. These biases often result from System 1 thinking.

Example

Representativeness heuristic: Judging probabilities based on similarity rather than logic.

Assuming a high school student who excels in science is planning to become a doctor, even though they might be interested in other careers.

Example

Availability heuristic: Assessing the likelihood of events based on how easily examples come to mind.

A student fears plane crashes more than car accidents because they recently saw a news report on a crash, even though car accidents are far more common.

Alternative Models of Decision-Making

Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB)

Overview: TPB is a macro-level model explaining decisions as outcomes of behavioral intentions, determined by:

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Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

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Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

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Note

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Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit.

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

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The Dual Processing Model (DPM)

Definition

Dual Processing Model

Humans think and make decisions by categorizing their cognitive processes into two systems:

System 1: Fast, automatic, unconscious, and intuitive. It relies on past experiences and heuristics.
System 2: Slow, deliberate, conscious, and rational. It involves logical reasoning and evaluating consequences.

These systems affect judgment, which, in turn, impacts thinking and decision-making.

Key Studies

Case study

Representativeness Heuristic: Kahneman and Tversky (1974)

Aim: To investigate how people use heuristics (mental shortcuts) in decision-making.

Method: Participants were asked which of two hospitals (one large, one small) was more likely to report a higher percentage of boys born on a given day.

Procedure:

Participants were presented with the following scenario:
A larger hospital records about 45 births daily, while a smaller hospital records about 15. Both hospitals record the days on which more than 60% of births are boys.
Question: Which hospital is more likely to record such days?

Results:

The smaller hospital is statistically more likely due to smaller sample size variability.
78% of participants incorrectly answered, relying on System 1 (intuition) instead of System 2 (logic).

Conclusion: This study highlights the dominance of System 1 when people rely on heuristics, such as the representativeness heuristic, in decision-making.

Case study

Bechara et al. (2000) - The Iowa Gambling Task

Aim: To explore the role of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) in decision-making.

Method: Experimental study using the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT).

Participants: Healthy controls and individuals with vmPFC lesions.

Procedure:

Participants played a card game with two types of decks:
1. "Safe" decks: Low short-term rewards but better long-term gains.
2. "Risky" decks: High short-term rewards but significant long-term losses.
Participants chose cards over multiple trials.

Results:

Healthy participants learned to avoid risky decks, relying on System 2 to analyze outcomes.
vmPFC-damaged participants continually chose risky decks, acting impulsively and relying on System 1.

Conclusion: The vmPFC plays a critical role in overriding impulsive decisions (System 1) by engaging in rational analysis (System 2).

Heuristics

Definition

Heuristics

Heuristics are cognitive shortcuts that simplify decision-making but can lead to biases. These biases often result from System 1 thinking.

Example

Representativeness heuristic: Judging probabilities based on similarity rather than logic.

Assuming a high school student who excels in science is planning to become a doctor, even though they might be interested in other careers.

Example

Availability heuristic: Assessing the likelihood of events based on how easily examples come to mind.

A student fears plane crashes more than car accidents because they recently saw a news report on a crash, even though car accidents are far more common.

Alternative Models of Decision-Making

Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB)

Overview: TPB is a macro-level model explaining decisions as outcomes of behavioral intentions, determined by:

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

Biological Approach4 subtopics

Cognitive Approach4 subtopics

Sociocultural Approach4 subtopics

Option 1: Abnormal Psychology3 subtopics

Option 2: Developmental Psychology3 subtopics

Option 3: Health Psychology3 subtopics

Option 4: Human Relationships3 subtopics

IB Psychology Thinking and Decision-making Notes

Biological Approach4 subtopics

Cognitive Approach4 subtopics

Sociocultural Approach4 subtopics

Option 1: Abnormal Psychology3 subtopics

Option 2: Developmental Psychology3 subtopics

Option 3: Health Psychology3 subtopics

Option 4: Human Relationships3 subtopics

The Dual Processing Model (DPM)

Key Studies

Representativeness Heuristic: Kahneman and Tversky (1974)

Bechara et al. (2000) - The Iowa Gambling Task

Heuristics

Alternative Models of Decision-Making

Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB)

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

The Dual Processing Model (DPM)

Key Studies

Representativeness Heuristic: Kahneman and Tversky (1974)

Bechara et al. (2000) - The Iowa Gambling Task

Heuristics

Alternative Models of Decision-Making

Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB)

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account