Dual-Process Theories

Abstract Dual-process theories propose that judgments and behavior can be understood as the product of two (sets of) qualitatively distinct processes—one characterized by features of automatic processing and the other by features of controlled processing. This chapter provides an overview of dual-process theories in social psychology, integrating both historical and conceptual developments. Distinguishing between three broad classes of dual-process theories, the chapter reviews the most influential examples of (a) domain-specific dual-process theories, which focus on particular phenomena, (b) domain-independent dual-system theories, which identify general principles of information processing, and (c) formalized dual-process theories, which quantify the joint contributions of two distinct processes to behavioral responses. The chapter also discusses critical arguments against each type of dual-process theorizing, which are integrated in a general outlook on future directions.