Some Theorists Have Proposed That People Are Rational Thinkers and Decision-Makers

question 67

Essay

Some theorists have proposed that people are rational thinkers and decision-makers, while others believe social cognition is often subject to biases and other distorting influences. Compare and contrast some of the central ideas that characterize these two perspectives, indicating which you find more convincing. What conditions are necessary for human cognition to operate on a thoroughly rational basis? How common are these conditions in everyday life?

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Definitions:

Walter Mischel

An American psychologist known for his research on personality and his critique of the idea that behavior is consistent across different situations.

Gordon Allport

An American psychologist regarded as one of the founding figures of personality psychology.

Sigmund Freud

An Austrian neurologist who founded the discipline of psychoanalysis and developed theories about the unconscious mind, defense mechanisms, and psychosexual stages.

Empirical Research

The process of collecting and analyzing data through observation and experimentation to validate or refute a hypothesis, theory, or belief.