Dual-Process Models in Social and Cognitive Psychology: Conceptual Integration and Links to Underlying Memory Systems

TLDR

Dual‑process models have been proposed across social and cognitive psychology, grounded in evidence that humans possess two distinct memory systems. The authors propose a new conceptual dual‑process model and outline its insights and implications for multiple topic areas. The model posits a slow‑learning system that acquires general regularities and a fast‑learning system that encodes unique events; effortless processing arises from associative retrieval in the slow system, while effortful processing requires intentional rule retrieval from either system, and the authors review how existing dual‑process models share these assumptions.

Abstract

Models postulating 2 distinct processing modes have been proposed in several topic areas within social and cognitive psychology. We advance a new conceptual model of the 2 processing modes. The structural basis of the new model is the idea, supported by psychological and neuropsychological evidence, that humans possess 2 memory systems. One system slowly learns general regularities, whereas the other can quickly form representations of unique or novel events. Associative retrieval or pattern completion in the slow-learning system elicited by a salient cue constitutes the effortless processing mode. The second processing mode is more conscious and effortful; it involves the intentional retrieval of explicit, symbolically represented rulesfrom either memory system and their use to guide processing. After presenting our model, we review existing dual-process models in several areas, emphasizing their similar assumptions of a quick, effortless processing mode that rests on well-learned prior associations and a second, more effortful processing mode that involves rule-based inferences and is employed only when people have both cognitive capacity and motivation. New insights and implications of the model for several topic areas are outlined.