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:

Mathematical Intelligence

An individual's capacity to understand, apply, and solve mathematical concepts, operations, and problems.

Internal Attribution

The process of ascribing the cause of behavior to personal aspects such as traits, feelings, or abilities.

Ease of Retrieval Effect

A phenomenon where individuals judge an event or concept as more frequent or influential if they can easily recall examples of it.

Working Memory Capacity

The amount of information that an individual can hold and manipulate in their mind at one time for short periods.