In the late 1800s and early 1900s, some psychologists believed in Aristotle's idea that "thought is impossible without an image" , while others disagree. Most evidence pointed to thought being possible without imagery and by the 1910s, imagery was not a heavily studied topic in psychology.

Imageless thought debate 

Humans use two distinct cognitive systems:
- System 1 is fast, intuitive, unconscious and automatic.
- System 2 is slow, reflective, conscious and controlled.

Dual systems of cognition

People try to explain others' behavior through causation. A common though might be "What caused X to do Y".

Causal Attribution

Heuristics are mental shortcuts that people rely on to simplify the complex task of forming and maintaining beliefs. Because forming detailed and accurate beliefs requires extensive observation, memory, and analysis, individuals use these efficient cognitive strategies. However, relying on heuristics can sometimes lead to incorrect conclusions.

Heuristics

- Heuristics and biases
- Imageless thought debate
- Dual systems approach
- Causal attribution

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

The flow of ideas and associations that can lead to conclusions or actions

Thought

Goldstein, E. B. (2014). Cognitive psychology: Connecting mind, research and everyday experience. Nelson Education.


Cognitive psychology: Connecting mind, research and everyday experience

Kahneman, Daniel. Thinking, Fast and Slow. Nota, 2013.

Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Aronson, Elliot, and Joshua Aronson. The Social Animal. Worth Publishers, Macmillan Learning, 2018.

The Social Animal

Focuses of Research on Thought

The formation of thoughts is a complex cognitive process that involves synthesizing information from multiple sources. The mind does not rely solely on external sensory data; it also integrates internal information from emotions and memories to construct thoughts. This synthesis means that emotion and memory are powerful influences on both our thoughts and behaviors.

Synthesis of Information in Thought Formation

A person is trying to decide which route to take to a new destination. They look at a map showing a direct highway route and a shorter, scenic backroad route. They remember hearing a traffic report about an accident on the highway. They also feel a bit rushed for time. After considering the potential delay on the highway against the slower speed limit on the backroads, they choose the backroads. Which part of this scenario best exemplifies the process of 'thought'?

Read the following scenario. Analyze the individual's mental process by explaining how their 'flow of ideas and associations' leads to a final conclusion or action.

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