Deck 2: Section 2: Dual Modes in Social Cognition

Question 1

In person perception, are threat-related stimuli more likely to be encoded deliberately or automatically? Use examples to back up your claim.
a. Stimuli related to threat or hostility tend to be processed quickly and automatically. For example, faces that look even a little bit angry tend to lead to activation of the amygdala and very rapid judgments about the target's untrustworthiness Todorov et al., 2008). When perceiving groups, individuals who appear angry stand out more than individuals who appear happy Hansen & Hansen, 1998). As people tend to automatically encode information relevant to current needs Bruner, 1957; Aarts, 2012), it stands to reason that stimuli relating to threat - and, therefore, the immediate need for self-preservation - would be quickly and automatically encoded.

Answer 1

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Question 2

In a few sentences, describe an example of a new study that would benefit from the use of subliminal priming, and why conscious priming would not work as well in this study. Then, describe a different study in which conscious priming would be preferable.

Answer 2

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Question 3

Describe an example of an intentional thought and a different example of an unintentional thought, and explain the difference. Is it possible for an intentional thought to be automatic? Why or why not?
a. Why do some researchers argue that free will is an illusion? Cite specific examples. Some scientists, such as Wegner, believe that conscious will is in fact an illusion, caused by thinking about the action before they do it Wegner, 2003; Wenger & Wheately, 1999). Instead of the individual consciously deciding to complete an action, Wegner and others like John Bargh 1997) argue that characteristics of a situation can directly prime motives, thoughts, and behavior - free will has little to do with it. In one experiment, a subliminal prime caused participants to feel they had caused an outcome in a computer program, when in fact they had no control over the situation Aarts, Custers, & Wegner, 2005). In another experiment, participants who caused injury to a "voodoo doll" of another participant believed they had a causal role in their partner's subsequent headache Pronin, Wegner, McCarthy, & Rodriguez, 2006).

Answer 3

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Question 4

Give an example of a goal-directed automatic process and describe why such processes are both automatic and controlled.
a. Example:
b. Intention guiding an automatic process.