What are some limitations of System 1?
System 1 has biases, makes systematic errors in specified circumstances, answers easier questions than asked, and cannot be turned off.
Which system is primarily responsible for involuntary attention to loud sounds?
System 1.
1/107
p.6
Illusions and Cognitive Biases

What are some limitations of System 1?

System 1 has biases, makes systematic errors in specified circumstances, answers easier questions than asked, and cannot be turned off.

p.3
Attention Allocation and Control

Which system is primarily responsible for involuntary attention to loud sounds?

System 1.

p.18
Attention Allocation and Control

What is the relationship between attention control and general intelligence?

People who perform well on attention control tests tend to also do well on tests of general intelligence, but attention control efficiency can predict performance in specific jobs beyond intelligence.

p.21
Self-Control and Executive Function

What happens when people face a demanding cognitive task and a temptation simultaneously?

They are more likely to yield to the temptation.

p.3
Mental Effort and Cognitive Load

What happens to attention when it is drawn away from a task requiring System 2?

Attention disruption occurs, affecting performance.

p.1
Mental Effort and Cognitive Load

What physical responses might occur during effortful mental work?

Muscles tense up, blood pressure rises, and heart rate increases.

p.20
Mental Effort and Cognitive Load

How does the author relate physical activity to mental alertness?

The author suspects that the mild physical arousal from walking may enhance mental alertness.

p.16
Mental Effort and Cognitive Load

What does the 'law of least effort' imply about human behavior?

The law asserts that if there are several ways to achieve the same goal, people will gravitate towards the least demanding course of action.

p.20
Self-Control and Executive Function

What is the author's preference when engaging in intense mental work?

The author prefers to be still and would rather sit than stand when constructing intricate arguments under time pressure.

p.9
Self-Control and Executive Function

What is the recommended approach to avoid significant mistakes?

The best approach is to recognize situations where mistakes are likely and to try harder to avoid significant mistakes when the stakes are high.

p.4
Illusions and Cognitive Biases

What was the main finding of the Invisible Gorilla experiment?

Many viewers failed to notice a gorilla in the video because they were focused on counting basketball passes, illustrating how attention can blind us to unexpected stimuli.

p.6
Automatic vs. Effortful Thinking

What is the primary function of System 1 in cognitive processing?

System 1 minimizes effort and optimizes performance by providing accurate models of familiar situations and swift reactions to challenges.

p.3
Attention Allocation and Control

How can attention be redirected from an unwanted focus?

By focusing intently on another target.

p.1
Pupil Dilation as a Measure of Mental Effort

What happens to pupils during intense mental effort?

Pupils dilate during the computation and contract back to normal size once the work is completed or given up.

p.13
Pupil Dilation as a Measure of Mental Effort

How did Hess's findings differentiate between mental effort and emotional arousal?

Hess's observations indicated that the response to mental effort is distinct from emotional arousal, as pupil dilation is a sensitive indicator of mental effort.

p.7
Self-Control and Executive Function

What conflict do individuals often experience when performing tasks?

Individuals often experience a conflict between an automatic response and an intention to control it, such as trying not to stare at something distracting.

p.12
Pupil Dilation as a Measure of Mental Effort

How can one measure mental effort during the Add-1 task?

By observing the changing size of the pupils, which reflects the level of cognitive effort exerted.

p.19
Automatic vs. Effortful Thinking

What does it mean when someone refers to an intuition from System 1?

It refers to a quick, automatic thought or feeling that arises without deliberate reasoning.

p.3
Automatic vs. Effortful Thinking

What type of knowledge is accessed without intention and effort?

Knowledge that is stored in memory and accessed involuntarily.

p.6
Task Switching and Cognitive Performance

What does Figure 2 illustrate about the conflict between System 1 and System 2?

Figure 2 shows that some parts of tasks are easier than others, highlighting the conflict between the two systems.

p.3
Self-Control and Executive Function

Can System 2 change the way System 1 operates?

Yes, System 2 can program the normally automatic functions of attention and memory.

p.5
Self-Control and Executive Function

What happens when System 2 detects an error?

System 2 increases its effort to prevent the error and maintain control over behavior.

p.5
Attention Allocation and Control

What does surprise do to our attention?

Surprise activates and orients our attention, prompting us to search for explanations.

p.16
Automatic vs. Effortful Thinking

What distinguishes System 2 from System 1 in cognitive processing?

System 2 is capable of more complex cognitive operations that require sustained attention and effort, unlike System 1 which operates automatically.

p.5
Cognitive Systems: System 1 and System 2

How do Systems 1 and 2 interact when we are awake?

System 1 runs automatically while System 2 operates in a low-effort mode, engaging only a fraction of its capacity.

p.5
Cognitive Systems: System 1 and System 2

What role does System 1 play in our thinking process?

System 1 generates impressions, intuitions, intentions, and feelings that System 2 can endorse.

p.21
Self-Control and Executive Function

What mental effort is needed to resist the urge to slow down while performing a task?

Self-control is needed to resist the urge to slow down.

p.13
Pupil Dilation as a Measure of Mental Effort

What experimental setup did Beatty and the author use to study pupil dilation?

They developed a setup similar to an optician’s examination room where participants leaned on a chin-and-forehead rest, stared at a camera, and listened to prerecorded information while answering questions.

p.21
Mental Effort and Cognitive Load

What is the law of least effort?

The law of least effort suggests that people avoid tasks that require frequent switching and speeded-up mental work when possible.

p.7
Self-Control and Executive Function

How does System 2 help in self-control?

System 2 is responsible for overcoming the impulses of System 1, thus aiding in self-control.

p.15
Mental Effort and Cognitive Load

What was the main finding regarding the detection of the letter K during the digit task?

The ability to detect and report the target letter K changed throughout the 10 seconds of the exercise, with subjects almost never missing it at the beginning or end but missing it almost half the time when mental effort was at its peak.

p.15
Pupil Dilation as a Measure of Mental Effort

How does pupil dilation relate to mental effort?

Pupil dilation follows an inverted-V pattern similar to detection failures, indicating that it is a good measure of the physical arousal that accompanies mental effort.

p.1
Cognitive Systems: System 1 and System 2

What mental experience is associated with System 2?

The operations of System 2 are often associated with the subjective experience of agency, choice, and concentration.

p.14
Pupil Dilation as a Measure of Mental Effort

What happens to pupil dilation during the Add-3 task compared to holding seven digits for immediate recall?

During the Add-3 task, pupil dilation increases by about 50% in the first 5 seconds, indicating it is much more demanding than holding seven digits.

p.13
Pupil Dilation as a Measure of Mental Effort

What did Hess observe about pupil dilation in relation to mental effort?

Hess noticed that pupils dilate substantially when people multiply two-digit numbers, with greater dilation for harder problems compared to easier ones.

p.16
Mental Effort and Cognitive Load

What is the relationship between skill acquisition and cognitive effort?

As skill increases, the demand for cognitive energy diminishes, leading to fewer brain regions being involved in the task.

p.17
Self-Control and Executive Function

What is the significance of the prefrontal area of the brain in cognitive tasks?

The prefrontal area is more developed in humans than in other primates and is involved in operations associated with intelligence.

p.13
Pupil Dilation as a Measure of Mental Effort

What did the pupil data correspond to in the Add-1 task?

The pupil data corresponded precisely to subjective experience, showing that longer strings caused larger dilations and that the peak pupil size coincided with maximum effort.

p.6
Attention Allocation and Control

What happens when you see a word in a language you know?

You will read it unless your attention is totally focused elsewhere.

p.8
Illusions and Cognitive Biases

What happens when you measure the lines in the Müller-Lyer illusion?

You come to believe that the lines are equally long, but you still perceive one line as longer due to System 1.

p.20
Attention Allocation and Control

What happens when the author tries to think while walking at a faster pace?

As the author speeds up, their ability to think coherently deteriorates, and they become more focused on maintaining the faster pace.

p.21
Mental Effort and Cognitive Load

How do self-control and deliberate thought relate to cognitive effort?

Self-control and deliberate thought draw on the same limited budget of effort.

p.18
Mental Effort and Cognitive Load

What is the law of least effort in relation to mental tasks?

The law of least effort suggests that people tend to divide tasks into easier steps and avoid mental overload by committing intermediate results to long-term memory or paper.

p.12
Self-Control and Executive Function

What vital tasks can only be performed by System 2?

Tasks that require effort and acts of self-control, overcoming the intuitions and impulses of System 1.

p.4
Mental Effort and Cognitive Load

Why is it difficult to conduct several effortful activities at once?

Effortful activities interfere with each other, making it challenging or impossible to perform multiple tasks simultaneously.

p.19
Cognitive Systems: System 1 and System 2

What does it imply when someone says they will search their memory deliberately?

It implies a conscious, effortful process of recalling information, which is characteristic of System 2 thinking.

p.1
Automatic vs. Effortful Thinking

What is the primary characteristic of System 1 thinking?

System 1 operates automatically and quickly, with little or no effort and no sense of voluntary control.

p.20
Mental Effort and Cognitive Load

What is the author's experience of walking at a speed of 17 minutes per mile?

The author experiences it as a stroll with no strain, conflict, or need to push themselves, while still exerting physical effort and burning calories.

p.14
Pupil Dilation as a Measure of Mental Effort

How did the researchers observe pupil dilation during cognitive tasks?

They set up a closed-circuit system that projected an image of the subject’s pupil on a screen in the corridor, allowing them to watch the dilation and contraction.

p.17
Cognitive Systems: System 1 and System 2

How does System 1 differ from System 2 in terms of processing information?

System 1 detects simple relations and integrates information about one thing, while System 2 can handle multiple distinct topics and use statistical information.

p.16
Mental Effort and Cognitive Load

What cognitive operations require more effort than others?

Tasks that involve holding multiple ideas in memory or performing complex calculations tend to be more demanding and effortful.

p.17
Mental Effort and Cognitive Load

What challenge does the Add-3 task present to working memory?

The Add-3 task requires holding several digits in working memory simultaneously and associating each with a specific operation.

p.4
Attention Allocation and Control

What is the effect of focusing on a specific task on attention allocation?

Intense focusing on a task can make people effectively blind to other stimuli, as demonstrated by the Invisible Gorilla experiment.

p.12
Mental Effort and Cognitive Load

What is the Add-1 task?

A cognitive exercise where participants increment each digit of a four-digit string by 1 while maintaining a steady rhythm.

p.4
Self-Control and Executive Function

How does social behavior adapt to the limitations of attention?

People often adjust their behavior, such as stopping conversations when a driver is overtaking a truck, to avoid distracting the person performing a task.

p.7
Automatic vs. Effortful Thinking

What is the role of System 2 in cognitive tasks?

System 2 engages in tasks that require effortful thinking, such as naming the position of words, which is not a routine action.

p.5
Mental Effort and Cognitive Load

When is System 2 mobilized?

System 2 is mobilized when System 1 encounters difficulties or when a surprising event occurs.

p.14
Mental Effort and Cognitive Load

What analogy did the researcher use to describe the pace of mental life?

Mental life is likened to a comfortable walk, occasionally interrupted by jogging or rare sprints, with tasks like Add-1 and Add-3 being sprints.

p.16
Pupil Dilation as a Measure of Mental Effort

How does pupil dilation relate to cognitive effort?

Pupil dilation can indicate the level of cognitive effort, with larger dilations associated with more demanding tasks.

p.21
Flow State and Optimal Experience

How do people describe their experience of flow?

People describe flow as a state of effortless concentration so deep that they lose their sense of time, themselves, and their problems.

p.15
Self-Control and Executive Function

What happens when mental overload occurs in System 2?

Unlike an electrical circuit that trips when overloaded, System 2 selectively protects the most important activity, allocating spare capacity to other tasks as needed.

p.9
Cognitive Systems: System 1 and System 2

How does the author describe the two systems in the mind?

The author invites readers to think of the two systems as agents within the mind, each with their own personalities, abilities, and limitations.

p.14
Pupil Dilation as a Measure of Mental Effort

What physiological changes occur when subjects are engaged in demanding cognitive tasks?

Heart rate increases by about 7 beats per minute, and pupil dilation occurs, which can stop or shrink if the task exceeds their capacity.

p.18
Mental Effort and Cognitive Load

How does time pressure affect mental effort during tasks?

Time pressure drives effort by forcing individuals to refresh and rehearse information quickly, similar to a juggler managing multiple balls.

p.18
Cognitive Systems: System 1 and System 2

What happens when tasks require keeping several ideas in mind simultaneously?

Such tasks create a hurried character, and without a strong working memory, individuals may find themselves working uncomfortably hard.

p.13
Pupil Dilation as a Measure of Mental Effort

What was the relationship between pupil size and task demands in the Add-1 task?

The size of the pupil varied second by second, reflecting the changing demands of the task, with an inverted V shape response indicating effort buildup and relaxation.

p.8
Illusions and Cognitive Biases

What is psychopathic charm?

Psychopathic charm refers to the ability of some individuals to manipulate others into believing they are different or trustworthy.

p.12
Mental Effort and Cognitive Load

What is the defining feature of System 2 in the context of effort?

System 2's operations are effortful, and it exhibits a reluctance to invest more effort than necessary.

p.15
Attention Allocation and Control

What analogy is used to describe the allocation of mental effort?

The analogy compares mental effort to electricity usage, where both have limited capacity and respond differently to overload, with mental effort being selectively allocated to important tasks.

p.15
Attention Allocation and Control

How does evolutionary history influence attention allocation?

The sophisticated allocation of attention has been honed by evolutionary history, improving survival by quickly orienting and responding to threats or opportunities.

p.2
Cognitive Systems: System 1 and System 2

What innate skills does System 1 possess?

System 1 is prepared to perceive the world, recognize objects, orient attention, avoid losses, and fear certain stimuli like spiders.

p.5
Illusions and Cognitive Biases

What is the main observation from the gorilla study?

People can be blind to obvious stimuli and are unaware of their own blindness.

p.3
Mental Effort and Cognitive Load

What is a common feature of operations performed by System 2?

They require attention and are disrupted when attention is diverted.

p.17
Self-Control and Executive Function

What is meant by 'task sets' in the context of System 2?

Task sets refer to the ability of System 2 to program memory to follow instructions that override habitual responses.

p.8
Illusions and Cognitive Biases

What are cognitive illusions?

Cognitive illusions are illusions of thought that can mislead our understanding and perception.

p.14
Illusions and Cognitive Biases

What phenomenon did the researchers observe related to cognitive overload?

They noted that during intense cognitive tasks, such as Add-1, individuals may become effectively blind to their surroundings.

p.7
Attention Allocation and Control

What happens when individuals try to focus on a boring book?

They often find themselves returning to the point where the reading lost its meaning, illustrating the struggle between attention and distraction.

p.10
Automatic vs. Effortful Thinking

How does System 1 function during highway driving?

System 1 allows for automatic and almost effortless steering of the car around bends, enabling experienced drivers to drive while conducting a conversation.

p.8
Illusions and Cognitive Biases

What must you learn to do to resist the Müller-Lyer illusion?

You must learn to mistrust your impressions of the length of lines when fins are attached and recognize the illusory pattern.

p.20
Automatic vs. Effortful Thinking

What does the author suggest about the relationship between walking and thinking?

Walking and thinking are normally easy and pleasant, but at extremes, they compete for the limited resources of System 2.

p.18
Self-Control and Executive Function

Why might someone avoid solving a complex problem while driving?

Because it is a pupil-dilating task that requires significant mental effort, which can be distracting and unsafe while driving.

p.21
Flow State and Optimal Experience

What state did Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi propose for effortless concentration?

He proposed the state of 'flow' for effortless concentration.

p.2
Automatic vs. Effortful Thinking

What is the primary function of System 1 in cognitive processing?

System 1 originates impressions and feelings automatically, serving as the main source for the explicit beliefs and deliberate choices of System 2.

p.2
Cognitive Systems: System 1 and System 2

How does System 2 differ from System 1 in terms of cognitive processing?

System 2 constructs thoughts in an orderly series of steps and can take over to override the automatic impulses of System 1.

p.17
Automatic vs. Effortful Thinking

What is the primary function of System 2 in cognitive processing?

System 2 can follow rules, compare objects on several attributes, and make deliberate choices between options.

p.1
Automatic vs. Effortful Thinking

What type of thinking is characterized by slow, deliberate, and effortful processes?

This type of thinking is a prototype of slow thinking, often associated with System 2.

p.8
Self-Control and Executive Function

What warning did the teacher give about a patient who shares multiple treatment mistakes?

The teacher warned against taking on the patient, suggesting he is likely a psychopath and that you will not be able to help him.

p.17
Task Switching and Cognitive Performance

Why is switching from one task to another considered effortful?

Switching tasks is effortful, especially under time pressure, as it requires overcoming newly acquired tendencies and managing multiple pieces of information.

p.9
Automatic vs. Effortful Thinking

What is the relationship between System 1 and feelings towards patients in the context of psychopathy?

System 1 automatically generates feelings of sympathy for patients, which are not under our control, while System 2 is taught to recognize cognitive illusions related to these feelings.

p.10
Cognitive Systems: System 1 and System 2

Why are System 1 and System 2 described as fictitious characters?

They are described as fictitious characters to simplify the understanding of mental processes and to make it easier to think about judgment and choice.

p.10
Mental Effort and Cognitive Load

What is the advantage of using the terms System 1 and System 2 instead of 'automatic system' and 'effortful system'?

Using 'System 1' and 'System 2' is quicker and takes less space in working memory, which is important for cognitive processing.

p.2
Mental Effort and Cognitive Load

How do some mental activities become automatic in System 1?

They become fast and automatic through prolonged practice and learning associations between ideas.

p.14
Mental Effort and Cognitive Load

What did the researchers discover about pupil size during casual conversation?

The pupil remained small and did not noticeably dilate during casual conversation, indicating it required little to no mental effort.

p.7
Illusions and Cognitive Biases

What is the Müller-Lyer illusion an example of?

The Müller-Lyer illusion demonstrates the distinction between impressions and beliefs, as people perceive the lines to be different lengths despite them being identical.

p.10
Automatic vs. Effortful Thinking

What does System 2 represent in the context of mental arithmetic?

System 2 represents a voluntary activity that requires effort, should not be performed while making a left turn, and is associated with dilated pupils and an accelerated heart rate.

p.21
Flow State and Optimal Experience

What distinguishes flow from effortful tasks?

In a state of flow, maintaining focused attention on absorbing activities requires no exertion of self-control.

p.2
Automatic vs. Effortful Thinking

What are some examples of automatic activities attributed to System 1?

Examples include detecting distance between objects, completing phrases, making facial expressions, and recognizing hostility in voices.

p.10
Self-Control and Executive Function

What role does System 2 play in James's reaction to an insult?

System 2 prevented James from reacting foolishly to the insult, implying that without effortful control, he might have responded aggressively.

p.9
Cognitive Systems: System 1 and System 2

What is the author's stance on using active sentences to describe System 2's functions?

The author uses active sentences to describe System 2's functions as a form of description rather than an explanation, despite criticism from colleagues.

p.9
Illusions and Cognitive Biases

What is a cognitive illusion in the context of patient attraction?

A strong attraction to a patient with a history of failed treatment is a cognitive illusion, similar to the Müller-Lyer illusion, indicating a danger sign.

p.9
Mental Effort and Cognitive Load

Why is it difficult to prevent errors of intuitive thought?

Errors of intuitive thought are difficult to prevent because System 1 operates automatically and System 2 may not recognize the error.

p.11
Automatic vs. Effortful Thinking

What is a System 1 response?

A System 1 response is an automatic, quick reaction to a stimulus, often occurring before conscious recognition.

p.4
Mental Effort and Cognitive Load

What does the phrase 'pay attention' imply about our cognitive resources?

It implies that we have a limited budget of attention that we can allocate to activities, and exceeding this budget can lead to failure.

p.12
Mental Effort and Cognitive Load

What is the significance of the Add-3 task?

It serves as a more challenging version of the Add-1 task, pushing cognitive abilities further.

p.15
Automatic vs. Effortful Thinking

What role does System 1 play in emergencies?

In emergencies, System 1 takes over and assigns total priority to self-protective actions.

p.11
Illusions and Cognitive Biases

What does it mean when someone has an impression that is described as an illusion?

It means that their perception may not accurately reflect reality, leading to a misunderstanding or misjudgment.

p.11
Cognitive Systems: System 1 and System 2

How can one shift from a System 1 response to a System 2 response?

By slowing down and consciously engaging in more deliberate and analytical thinking.

Study Smarter, Not Harder
Study Smarter, Not Harder