Day 113 of 120 Logic Difficulty 4/10

Reasoning runs on a fast intuitive system and a slow deliberate one

Quick answer

Reasoning runs on a fast intuitive system and a slow deliberate one. Today's question (Dual-process review) asks about a finding from Evans, J. St. B. T. in 2008. The correct option is A fast, autonomous, intuitive system and a slower, deliberate, working-memory-dependent system — full explanation, primary source, and glossary cross-links below.

Today's question

Evans' (2008) Annual Review summarized dual-process theories of reasoning as positing two contrasting modes of processing:

  1. A Conscious and unconscious processing, with no behavioural differences
  2. B A fast, autonomous, intuitive system and a slower, deliberate, working-memory-dependent system
  3. C Two language-specific modules unrelated to reasoning
  4. D A creative system and a destructive system
Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct: B — A fast, autonomous, intuitive system and a slower, deliberate, working-memory-dependent system

Evans (2008) reviewed dozens of dual-process accounts that distinguish a fast, automatic, low-load Type 1 system (often labelled intuition) from a slower, working-memory-dependent Type 2 system (deliberate reasoning). Cross-cutting evidence from neuroimaging, individual differences, instructions to 'go with your gut' versus 'think carefully', and cognitive-load manipulations supports a meaningful empirical contrast even if no single theory wins. Evans cautioned against treating the two systems as fully separate or as good-vs-evil; modern revisions describe them as differently parameterized control settings that interact rather than as autonomous agents.

About the source

Evans, J. St. B. T. (2008). Dual-processing accounts of reasoning, judgment, and social cognition. Annual Review of Psychology, 59, 255–278.

Every Cognition Bible question cites a primary source — a paper, book chapter, or monograph that exists, that we can point to on Google Scholar, and whose finding the question accurately summarizes. No fabricated authority strings, no name-drops without paper-level grounding.

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