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How necessary is the unconscious as a predictive, explanatory, or prescriptive construct?
Claudia González-Vallejo1, Thomas R Stewart2, G Daniel Lassiter1
1Psychology Department, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701. gonzalez@ohio.edu danlassiter@mac.com jw225207@gmail.com http://www.ohioupsychology.com/
The Behavioral and Brain Sciences
|January 28, 2014
Summary
This study reveals the conceptual flaws in unconscious thinking research. We demonstrate that unconscious thought theory (UTT) lacks empirical support and its claims are unfounded.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Epistemology
Background:
- Unconscious thought theory (UTT) posits that complex decisions benefit from unconscious processing.
- Research on self-insight aims to understand the accuracy and limitations of introspective judgments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically evaluate the epistemological foundations of unconscious thinking in psychological research.
- To analyze the framework used by Newell & Shanks (N&S) in relation to UTT and self-insight studies.
- To challenge the validity and applicability of UTT.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of UTT and self-insight research.
- Examination of the lens model as applied to decision-making.
- Critique of the assumptions linking judgment accuracy to unconscious processes.
Main Results:
- Brunswikian psychology principles are not integral to UTT.
- Self-insight research was not initially designed to investigate unconscious cognition.
- Judgment accuracy does not inherently require unconscious thought.
- The prescriptive claims of UTT are not supported by current evidence.
Conclusions:
- The concept of unconscious thinking in research is epistemologically problematic.
- UTT is conceptually flawed and its prescriptive claims are unfounded.
- Alternative frameworks are needed to understand complex cognition and judgment accuracy.
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