Historically, how was mental life viewed?
It was thought to be entirely conscious (Descartes).
What did Loftus & Klinger (1992) claim about unconscious processes?
They viewed the unconscious as limited, supporting only routine tasks.
What is introspection?
Asking participants directly about their mental processes.
What did Miller (1962) say consciousness shows?
Results of thinking, not the thinking process itself.
What did Nisbett & Wilson (1977) question?
Whether people understand cognitive processes behind choices and judgments.
What was found in the stocking study?
Participants preferred the rightmost stocking 4:1 without awareness of bias.
What did Johansson et al. find about decision awareness?
People often didn’t notice choices being swapped and fabricated explanations.
What did Evans et al. (2000) find about hypoglycemia awareness?
People showed delays up to 20 minutes in awareness of symptoms.
How did glucose relate to aggression in Bushman et al. (2014)?
Lower glucose → more voodoo doll pins & louder/longer noise blasts.
What did Danziger et al. (2011) find about judicial rulings?
Parole decisions varied with food breaks (hunger/fatigue effects).
What did Wilson, Laser & Stone (1982) find about mood causes?
People were no better than observers at identifying mood correlations.
What is an example of unconscious creative insight?
Mendeleyev dreamed the periodic table.
What did Davis et al. (2011) show about political judgments?
A manipulated worm graph influenced debate judgments unconsciously.
What did Eastwick & Finkel (2008) find about romantic ideals?
Stated ideals didn’t predict actual speed‑dating preferences.
What do people often confabulate?
Explanations for their own behavior (Nisbett & Wilson, 1977).
What are erroneous explanations often based on?
Cultural expectations and observed covariation.
What is Chater’s ‘flat mind’ claim?
We have no privileged introspective access to mental processes.
Name a counterargument to ‘flat mind’.
Introspection can be better for private experiences.
General conclusion about cognitive processes?
We lack conscious access to many processes shaping behavior.
Definition: Introspection
Examining one’s own mental processes.
Definition: Unconscious processes
Cognitive functions outside awareness influencing behavior.
Definition: Systematic bias
Predictable errors in judgment/decision‑making.
Definition: Confabulation
Fabricating explanations without awareness of inaccuracy.
Definition: Hypoglycemia
Low blood sugar affecting cognition and behavior.
