COMN 2111 COMN 2111

THE MIND IN THE MIND IN COMMUNICATION: COMMUNICATION:

COGNITIONCOGNITION

Lecture 8aLecture 8a

COGNITION AND COGNITION AND COMMUNICATIONCOMMUNICATIONCOGNITION AND COGNITION AND COMMUNICATIONCOMMUNICATION

In discussing cognition – thinking – we are In discussing cognition – thinking – we are really talking about how we name our really talking about how we name our perceptions – the images in our mind perceptions – the images in our mind

We’ll speak to 2 questions about this processWe’ll speak to 2 questions about this process:: Do we use many approaches to a problem or Do we use many approaches to a problem or

few?few? Complex thinkers or simple?Complex thinkers or simple? Do we use many ways to name images or few in our Do we use many ways to name images or few in our

talk? talk? Do we distinguish between inferences and Do we distinguish between inferences and

observable facts?observable facts? We think we do but we mostly don’tWe think we do but we mostly don’t Hard to do - requires conscious workHard to do - requires conscious work

COGNITION: WORDS AND COGNITION: WORDS AND THE SYMBOLIC PROCESSTHE SYMBOLIC PROCESS

COGNITION: WORDS AND COGNITION: WORDS AND THE SYMBOLIC PROCESSTHE SYMBOLIC PROCESS

The elemental problem:The elemental problem: The word symbols we use canThe word symbols we use can’’t fully and t fully and

accurately accurately representrepresent the things they refer to. the things they refer to. Things (the world) = Things (the world) = complex complex and and dynamic. dynamic.

ButBut the the symbols we use to name them = symbols we use to name them = simplesimple and and static. static.

We tend to use simple terms for complex We tend to use simple terms for complex subjects – like other peoplesubjects – like other people

And we forget the word is not the thing/person And we forget the word is not the thing/person it representsit represents

THINKING AND THINKING AND ABSTRACTING ABSTRACTING THINKING AND THINKING AND

ABSTRACTING ABSTRACTING

We We leave out leave out information information as we move from as we move from specific to general specific to general

George is 5George is 5’’ 9 9””, 160 lbs., Grad student from another country., 160 lbs., Grad student from another country.

Highest level abstractions can be Highest level abstractions can be powerful, powerful, positivepositive

George is a really great guy George is a really great guy

Or they can be Or they can be our our worst languageworst language – –stereotypesstereotypes

George is one of those…..We all know about them. We shouldnGeorge is one of those…..We all know about them. We shouldn’’t be helping those kinds of people t be helping those kinds of people with their education. with their education.

THINKING AND THINKING AND ABSTRACTING ABSTRACTING THINKING AND THINKING AND

ABSTRACTING ABSTRACTING

Why would we want to talk like this?Why would we want to talk like this? We can intentionally inspire or inflameWe can intentionally inspire or inflame

Abstract generalities can move others Abstract generalities can move others emotionally and make us sound certainemotionally and make us sound certain

Remember those emotional markers in our Remember those emotional markers in our cognitive unconscious (+) and (-)cognitive unconscious (+) and (-)

But we most often use abstract – low But we most often use abstract – low content, low-detail words – because itcontent, low-detail words – because it’’s s easier and faster – less work for our easier and faster – less work for our conscious mindconscious mind

THINKINGTHINKINGTHINKINGTHINKING We said in a previous lecture that We said in a previous lecture that

conscious thought was conscious thought was effortfuleffortful, , slowslow, , controllablecontrollable and and flexibleflexible. .

And we can do that under some And we can do that under some circumstancescircumstances

Studying, writing essays – which Studying, writing essays – which concepts work here, which donconcepts work here, which don’’t, how can t, how can use them to interpret this piece of use them to interpret this piece of dialoguedialogue

But for most of us this is tedious, hard But for most of us this is tedious, hard workwork

THINKING AND TALKTHINKING AND TALK

When we focus it to think, the conscious mind When we focus it to think, the conscious mind burns burns a lot of energy and it works slowly a lot of energy and it works slowly (That(That’’s why writing essays is so hard and studying is so s why writing essays is so hard and studying is so

draining)draining)

To think about what we’re saying – we would To think about what we’re saying – we would have to consciously have to consciously Pay attention – hard workPay attention – hard work

CM CM (conscious mind) (conscious mind) is easily distracted is easily distracted And slow down – sound and look awkwardAnd slow down – sound and look awkward

WIRED TO SEE, NOT WIRED TO SEE, NOT THINKTHINK

While talking, our thoughts and words need to flow While talking, our thoughts and words need to flow Effortless speed is essentialEffortless speed is essential

So the conscious mind (CM) hands over much of the So the conscious mind (CM) hands over much of the work of talk to the cognitive unconscious (CU). work of talk to the cognitive unconscious (CU). It’s wired to work efficiently and quickly It’s wired to work efficiently and quickly

The CM uses the constant flow of data from the The CM uses the constant flow of data from the effortless, perception process of the CU to fill in the effortless, perception process of the CU to fill in the blanks. To give it something to say. We don’t blanks. To give it something to say. We don’t “think” before we speak we “see” “think” before we speak we “see”

Kahneman calls it WYSIATIKahneman calls it WYSIATI

WIRED TO SEE, NOT WIRED TO SEE, NOT THINKTHINK

WYSIATIWYSIATI What You See Is All There is!What You See Is All There is! Thinking Fast and SlowThinking Fast and Slow

[The CU] continuously generates suggestions for [the CM]: impressions, [The CU] continuously generates suggestions for [the CM]: impressions, intuitions, intentions, and feelings. If endorsed by [the CM], intuitions, intentions, and feelings. If endorsed by [the CM], impressions and intuitions turn into belief, and impulses turn into impressions and intuitions turn into belief, and impulses turn into voluntary actions….[The Conscious Mind] adopts the suggestions of voluntary actions….[The Conscious Mind] adopts the suggestions of [the cognitive unconscious] with little or no modification. P. 24[the cognitive unconscious] with little or no modification. P. 24

The defining feature of [the CM] ….is that its operations are effortful, The defining feature of [the CM] ….is that its operations are effortful, and one of its main characteristics is laziness, our reluctance to invest and one of its main characteristics is laziness, our reluctance to invest more effort than is strictly necessary. As a consequence, the thoughts more effort than is strictly necessary. As a consequence, the thoughts and actions consistent ….it has chosen are often guided by the and actions consistent ….it has chosen are often guided by the [cognitive unconscious]. P. 31[cognitive unconscious]. P. 31

WYSIATI AND TALKWYSIATI AND TALK The CU instantly draws upon its past The CU instantly draws upon its past

experience and upon whatever info is experience and upon whatever info is immediately presentimmediately present We size up a new situation very quickly - We size up a new situation very quickly -

figure out who is there and whatfigure out who is there and what’’s going s going on and,on and,

(Perhaps most importantly) guess what(Perhaps most importantly) guess what’’s s going to happen next using the schema going to happen next using the schema from our early learningfrom our early learning

If we didnIf we didn’’t, our mind would slow down to t, our mind would slow down to the point that we would seem the point that we would seem ““lost in lost in thoughtthought”” every time we tried to speak. every time we tried to speak.

WYSIATI “THINKING” WYSIATI “THINKING” HEURISTICSHEURISTICS

Our lazy CM (conscious mind) lets the CU use a Our lazy CM (conscious mind) lets the CU use a number of shortcuts – heuristics – to get through number of shortcuts – heuristics – to get through our daily talk without hesitationour daily talk without hesitation

Accessibility: ease with which something comes to mind makes it true

Taking Things At Face Value: If you believe it - info is valid – the danger of internet slander

Representativeness: How Similar Is A To B – stereotyping - Looks like a duck, walks like a duck – must be duck – and you act like you know this for sure – even though you may only have seen a picture of a duck.

WYSIATI “THINKING” WYSIATI “THINKING” HEURISTICSHEURISTICS

Another shortcut – heuristics – to make a Another shortcut – heuristics – to make a judgment or decisionjudgment or decision Framing – how things are put. Framing – how things are put.

If surgeons tell patients procedure has a 15% If surgeons tell patients procedure has a 15% failure rate more will say no to it than if they say failure rate more will say no to it than if they say it has an 85% success rate. it has an 85% success rate.

WYSIATI “THINKING” WYSIATI “THINKING” HEURISTICSHEURISTICS

Verbal priming – verbal cues – previous thoughts alter next thoughts and actions

Positive priming – tell people success stories about others just before they do test – and they do better

Negative priming – remind people of their ethnicity –(if socially perceived as negative) they will do worse on tests – if positive they will do better

Asian American women before a math test – when reminded of their ethnicity did better than those not reminded. Those reminded of their gender did worse than those not reminded.

““THINKING” AND TALKTHINKING” AND TALK Conflicting thoughts about the same behavior Conflicting thoughts about the same behavior

– uncomfortable – – uncomfortable – cognitive dissonance cognitive dissonance – also – also treated as a result of conflicting perceptionstreated as a result of conflicting perceptions

Try to make sense out of contradictory ideas Try to make sense out of contradictory ideas and in our minds be consistentand in our minds be consistent

Best way for smokers who think smoking is Best way for smokers who think smoking is “bad for them” to resolve inner conflict is to “bad for them” to resolve inner conflict is to quit – quit – But if theyBut if they’’ve tried and canve tried and can’’t - the mind gets creativet - the mind gets creative Not so harmful - uncle who died at 92 still smokedNot so harmful - uncle who died at 92 still smoked Reduces stress – keeps weight off – those are good thingsReduces stress – keeps weight off – those are good things Critical of studies or data on harm – arguments against are Critical of studies or data on harm – arguments against are

stupidstupid Use an E-cigarette insteadUse an E-cigarette instead We all search the world for data to confirm our thoughts - We all search the world for data to confirm our thoughts -

confirmation biasconfirmation bias

““THINKING” AND TALKTHINKING” AND TALK

So in terms of every talk – in our thinking – we So in terms of every talk – in our thinking – we use few words - use few words - black-white labels – in black-white labels – in naming our perceptions – simple naming our perceptions – simple thinkers thinkers

For judgments and problem solving –WeFor judgments and problem solving –We use use WYSIATI’S simple heuristics – not high WYSIATI’S simple heuristics – not high effort, thoughtful comparisonseffort, thoughtful comparisons

For inner conflict we simply change our For inner conflict we simply change our judgments – often without noticing any judgments – often without noticing any inconsistency with past thoughts or inconsistency with past thoughts or wordswords

““THINKING” AND TALKTHINKING” AND TALK

The second part of our explanation for The second part of our explanation for all of our all of our ““squishysquishy”” thinking is…. thinking is….

Talk operates at several levels at once Talk operates at several levels at once – and mixes description, inferences – and mixes description, inferences and judgments in the same and judgments in the same conversations. conversations. We don’t even notice. We don’t even notice.

How this works and can be a problem How this works and can be a problem is for our next lecture.is for our next lecture.