Does Unconscious Thought Outperform Conscious Thought On Complex Decisions? A Further Examination

Author(s)

Scott Andrew Withrow, Bowling Green State UniversityFollow
Todd J. ThorsteinsonFollow

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Two experiments examined the benefits of unconscious thought on complex decisions (Dijksterhuis, 2004). Experiment 1 attempted to replicate and extend past research by examining the effect of providing reasons prior to rating the options. Results indicated no significant differences between the conditions. Experiment 2 attempted to replicate the findings of Dijksterhuis, Bos, Nordgren, and van Baaren (2006) and determine if a memory aid could overcome the limitations of conscious thought on complex tasks. Results revealed that a memory aid improved decisions compared to the conscious thought condition. Participants in the unconscious thought condition did not perform significantly better than did participants in the conscious thought condition.

Repository Citation

Withrow, Scott Andrew and Thorsteinson, Todd J., "Does Unconscious Thought Outperform Conscious Thought On Complex Decisions? A Further Examination" (2009). Psychology Faculty Publications. 5.
https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/psych_pub/5

Publication Date

4-2009

Publication Title

Judgment and Decision Making Journal

Publisher

Social Judgment & Decision Making

Start Page No.

235

End Page No.

247