Thinking about decisions: An integrative approach of person and task factors

Decisions vary. They may vary in both content and complexity. People also vary. An important way that people vary is how much they think. Some prior research investigating thinking and decision making largely conflicts with most traditional decision theories. For example, if considering an array of products to choose from, thinking more about the alternative's attributes should lead to a better decision. However, some research indicates that thinking more may also lead to focusing on irrelevant aspects of the decision and a less optimal outcome. We propose that this conflict in the literature exists because of a failure to consider the interaction between the individual and the decision task. To test this, we used separate methodologies that enhance or attenuate a person's thinking. In Study 1, we selected people who were especially high or low in need for cognition and had them complete a robust decision-making inventory, which included both complex and simple tasks. In Study 2, we manipulated participant's level of glucose, which acts as the brain's fuel to enhance or attenuate thinking ability. Both studies provide insight for understanding our central tenant that more thought leads to better decisions in complex tasks but does not influence simple decisions. These findings show how the individual's thinking can interact with the constructive elements of the task to shape decision choice.     

自恋与道德虚伪:权谋术和辩证思维的作用

探讨自恋影响道德虚伪的内在机制和边际条件。通过对200名金融行业员工的问卷调查,发现个体的自恋倾向能正向预测道德虚伪水平,是权谋术而不是印象管理在自恋与道德虚伪之间起中介作用。进一步的分析还发现辩证思维调节着自恋与道德虚伪之间的关系——对辩证思维水平低的人而言,自恋正向影响道德虚伪; 而对辩证思维水平高的人而言,自恋不影响道德虚伪。结果对理解当代中国人自恋人格与道德特性的关系有重要意义。     

网约车场景中声誉和面孔可信度对女性信任判断的影响以及直觉性思维的调节作用

以58名女性为研究对象, 用网约车场景来考察声誉和面孔可信度对其信任判断的影响, 并探讨直觉性思维的调节作用。结果表明声誉和面孔可信度会影响女性在选乘网约车时的信任判断, 她们更愿意信任声誉良好和面孔可信度高的司机; 相比低直觉性思维女性而言, 声誉对高直觉性思维女性的信任判断影响较小, 而面孔可信度对高直觉女性的信任判断影响较大。     

Conspiracist beliefs,intuitive thinking,and schizotypal facets: A further evaluation

This study examined whether thinking style mediated relationships between belief in conspiracy and schizotypy facets. A UK-based sample of 421 respondents completed the Generic Conspiracist Beliefs Scale (GCBS), Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences Short (O-Life), and measures indexing preferential thinking style (proneness to reality testing deficits and Need for Cognition). Path analysis revealed direct and indirect relationships between Conspiracy Beliefs and schizotypy facets. Unusual Experiences had a direct effect on Conspiracy Beliefs and predicted Reality Testing and Need for Cognition. Preferential thinking style mediated the schizotypy-belief in conspiracy relationship. This pattern of results (higher experiential-based processing and lower Need for Cognition) was consistent with intuitive thinking. Introverted Anhedonia and Impulsive Nonconformity predicted Reality Testing and had indirect effects on Conspiracy Beliefs. Finally, Reality Testing predicted Conspiracy Beliefs, whereas Need for Cognition did not. These results confirm that cognitive processes related to thinking style mediate the schizotypy-conspiracist beliefs relationship.     

创造力测量手段——同感评估技术（CAT）简介

同感评估技术（consensusassessmenttechnique）,又称主观评价法,是Amabile于1982年提出的评价创造力的一种方法。文章简要回顾了同感评估技术出现之前,基于发散思维测验的创造力评价法及其局限性。人们在寻求新的创造力评价方法的过程中,提出了同感评估技术。文章重点介绍了同感评估技术的理论基础,即它的同感定义和概念定义,然后说明了同感评估技术的具体使用方法、发展,以及在各领域的应用情况。最后,通过与创造性思维测验的比较,对同感评估技术作了评价,指出了CAT的优势和存在的问题     

Radical Democratic Communities Always-in-the-Making

This article explores the centralpragmatist and feminist philosophical assumption thatknowers can not be separated from what is known, thatthere is a dialectical relationship between socialbeings and ideas that is dynamic, flexible, andreciprocal. The author seeks a closer examination ofconstructive thinking in relation to the practice ofthinking constructively within social communities. She discusses social communities that constructknowledge as radical democratic communitiesalways-in-the-making, and the skills of communicatingand relating which help knowers be able to activelyparticipate in the construction of knowledge. Giventhe fallibility of the pluralistic subjects, she showsthe importance of addressing cultural influences andpolitical power in theories about thinking. Sheargues for the value of embracing pluralistic anddemocratic commitments on epistemological grounds aswell as moral grounds.     

The Death of a Child and the Birth of Practical Wisdom

This paper explores the notion of practical wisdom asan alternative to current formulations of criticalthinking. The practical realm is that ofill-structured problems that emerge from life aslived; it is a realm of legitimate uncertainty andambiguity that requires an ethical responsiveness orpractical wisdom. The death of a child is a case inpoint. The author identifies and examines threeaspects of practical wisdom – the ethical claims ofpartiality, a yielding responsiveness and the play ofthought – and juxtaposes them with aspects of criticalthinking. The work of Martha Nussbaum and RichardPaul are interwoven throughout the discussion. Theauthor concludes that the discourse of criticalthinking is in danger of lapsing into a form of moralescapism wherein all we are rationally responsible foris thinking correctly. Practical wisdom, on theother hand, recognizes that thinking is not simply anintellectual cognitive act of an individual but adance between the life of a child and the love of anelder, a conversation between what is and what couldbe, an openness to passionate sorrow and surprise, aplay between understanding and perception. As such,practical wisdom provides a more likely account ofliving in good faith with oneself and others.     

认知风格理论研究的进展

认知风格理论的研究从20世纪40年代开始,不同的研究者提出了不同的认知风格理论,并从单一的划分维度发展到多维度综合理论。而认知风格的应用也从教育领域扩大到了职业等其他领域,从而有了更广阔的研究范围。