ABSTRACT
The dual-system theories correspond to the dominant paradigm today in the cognitive psychology of thinking and reasoning. The Israeli-American Daniel Kahneman, 2002 Nobel Laureate in Economics, is the most famous representative of this approach. Here, the author presents and discusses Kahneman’s theory, which opposes two ways of thinking: fast and intuitive heuristics, which are dominant (System 1), and slow and logical algorithms, which are rare in practice (System 2 as described by Piaget and his predecessors). Other psychologists, such as Jonathan Evans in England and Keith Stanovich in Canada, have promoted the dual process approach. In this chapter, the author provides an example of how heuristics and biases can enter System 1 and dominate the entire mind via matching bias, belief bias, stereotypes, the framing effect and the emotions. He also presents the theory of the Portuguese-American Antonio Damasio regarding the role of specific emotions and feelings in the guidance of the cognitive brain towards System 2 (logic).
