Dual Process Theory: Embodied and Predictive; Symbolic and Classical
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Dual Process Theory is currently a popular theory for explaining why we show bounded rationality in reasoning and decision-making tasks. This theory proposes there must be a sharp distinction in thinking to explain two clusters of correlational features. One cluster describes a fast and intuitive process (Type 1), while the other describes a slow and reflective one (Type 2). A problem for this theory is identifying a common principle that binds these features together, explaining why they form a unity, the unity problem. To solve it, a hypothesis is developed combining embodied predictive processing with symbolic classical approaches. The hypothesis, simplified, states that Type 1 processes are bound together because they rely on embodied predictive processing whereas Type 2 processes form a unity because they are accomplished by symbolic classical cognition. To show that this is likely the case, the features of Dual Process Theory are discussed in relation to these frameworks.
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The reliance on Dual Process Theory (DPT) may not accurately represent the cognition processes involved in clinical decision-making.
“the reliance on the Dual Process Theory (DPT)42 may not accurately represent the cognition processes involved in clinical decision-making.”
From Large Language Models lack essential metacognition for reliable medical reasoning (2025) · cites this paper as [42]
The Features of Dual Process Theory section says DPT’s features have been criticized as poorly defined, and the Conclusion says the theory needs further development. Those passages support caution about relying on DPT, but the paper does not assess whether it accurately represents cognition in clinical decision-making specifically. (LLM, conf=0.79)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
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- Authors
- Bellini-Leite, S. C.
- Affiliations
- Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais (BR)
- Corresponding author
- Bellini-Leite, Samuel C.
- Venue
- Frontiers in Psychology
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media SA
- Published
- 2022-03-21
- Volume
- 13
- Pages
- 805386-805386
- ISSN
- 1664-1078 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC8979207
- OpenAlex
- W4221116607
- Cited by
- 52
- References
- 44
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 1
- FWCI
- 6.09
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Frontiers in Psychology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › General Decision Sciences › Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Embodied and Extended Cognition
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Cognitive Science and Education Research
- Keywords
- dual-process theory, bounded rationality, intuitive thinking, decision-making, fast and slow thinking
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