The Non-Conscious Executive Ran R. Hassin The Hebrew University Many thanks to: Henk Aarts John Bargh Ruud Custers Baruch Eitam Tali Kleiman

The Non-Conscious Executive

Ran R. HassinThe Hebrew University

Many thanks to:Henk AartsJohn BarghRuud CustersBaruch EitamTali Kleiman

“Executive” in the literature

Four points of agreement

* EP are resource demanding

* Executive processes (EP) are necessary for flexibility, for overcoming the habitual

* EP are necessary for conflict control (e.g, self control)

* EP are conscious

Outline of the talk

Method * “Multiple experiments” paradigm

- Prime a goal- Measure goal-directed behavior

Three Chapters (plus minus two)* Non-conscious conflict* Non-conscious resource demanding processes* Non-conscious flexibility

Methods of Goal Priming

C T T A I N J E C P

O D W U L G S Q O P

O M E S R J F D M L

P S L E Q T C A P A

E B E W C X L J E N

R N S Q R C Q E T T

A V I R T S U B E N

T A D W R E T S A M

E O I T S T A P L E

G N I D L I U B F K

BuildingCooperateTurtleTableTeamGreenShareStaplePlantCommuneDogLampTogether


C T T A I N J E C P

O D W U L G S Q O P

O M E S R J F D M L

P S L E Q T C A P A

E B E W C X L J E N

R N S Q R C Q E T T

A V I R T S U B E N

T A D W R E T S A M

E O I T S T A P L E

G N I D L I U B F K



Cooperate vs. Control

C T T A I N J E C P

O D W U L G S Q O P

O M E S R J F D M L

P S L E Q T C A P A

E B E W C X L J E N

R N S Q R C Q E T T

A V I R T S U B E N

T A D W R E T S A M

E O I T S T A P L E

G N I D L I U B F K



+


Cooperate


Encyclopedia

Outline of the talk

Method * “Multiple experiments” paradigm

- Prime a goal- Measure goal-directed behavior

Three Chapters (plus minus two)* Non-conscious conflict* Non-conscious resource demanding processes* Non-conscious flexibility

Chapter 1:

Non-conscious goal conflict

Goal Conflict

Three markers of goal conflict (in repeated decisions):* Longer decision times

* Greater variability in decisions

* Stronger effects of environmental “noise”

The Current Research

Commons resource dilemma* Subjects play against a presumed other participant

* 100 fish in the lake

* Each season participants fish X fish

* Decide: How many to return to the lake

* The fish population will extinguish below 70

The conflict

* Competing (keep many fish to oneself; dominant goal)

* Cooperating (keep few fish)

Study 1: Priming Cooperation

C T T A I N J E C P

O D W U L G S Q O P

O M E S R J F D M L

P S L E Q T C A P A

E B E W C X L J E N

R N S Q R C Q E T T

A V I R T S U B E N

T A D W R E T S A M

E O I T S T A P L E

G N I D L I U B F K



C T T A I N J E C P

O D W U L G S Q O P

O M E S R J F D M L

P S L E Q T C A P A

E B E W C X L J E N

R N S Q R C Q E T T

A V I R T S U B E N

T A D W R E T S A M

E O I T S T A P L E

G N I D L I U B F K


Goal priming: Word search task (Bargh et al., 2001)


Cooperate vs. Control

C T T A I N J E C P

O D W U L G S Q O P

O M E S R J F D M L

P S L E Q T C A P A

E B E W C X L J E N

R N S Q R C Q E T T

A V I R T S U B E N

T A D W R E T S A M

E O I T S T A P L E

G N I D L I U B F K


Goal priming: Word search task (Bargh et al., 2001)

Study 1

* 60 Trials * occasional warnings (“the fish population is at risk”)

Commons Task:

Study 1: Results

Conflict (Coop)

Control

Cooperation 49% 34%

Study 1: Results

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% F

ish

Ret

urne

d

coop control

Trial

Study 1: Results

Conflict (Coop)

Control

Cooperation 49% 34%

Decision Time

2380 ms 1520 ms

Study 1: Results

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Dec

isio

n T

ime

coop control

Fishing season

Study 1: Results

Conflict (Coop)

Control

Cooperation 49% 34%

Decision Time

2380 ms 1520 ms

SD 20.91 15.80

Study 1: Results

Commons resources dilemma (5 trials)

Awareness* No awareness of priming* No differences in goal commitment

measures of conflict* No differences in experienced conflict* No differences in experienced difficulty* No differences in perceived deliberation* No differences in enjoyment* No differences in mood

Study 2: Non-conflicting goal

Prime ‘competing’ (maximizing profit)

Common resources dilemma

Study 2: Results

Compete Control

Cooperation 25% 35%

Study 2: Results

Compete Control

Cooperation 25% 35%

Decision Time

2290 ms 2950 ms

Study 3: Results

Compete Control

Cooperation 25% 35%

Decision Time

2290 ms 2950 ms

SD 18.20 19.96

Study 2: Results

Commons resources dilemma (5 trials)

Awareness* No awareness of priming* No differences in goal commitment

measures of conflict* No differences in experienced conflict* No differences in experienced difficulty* No differences in perceived deliberation* No differences in mood

Study 3: Environmental noise

Prime ‘cooperation’

Two Tasks:* Numerical Judgment: Odd or Even* Commons resources dilemma

You fished X fish

Return

9

odd even


2

odd even

You fished X fish

return



Prime ‘cooperation’

Two Tasks:* Numerical Judgment: Odd or Even* Commons Resources Dilemma

“Numerical Judgments” provided either* High Anchors* Low Anchors

41

41.5

42

42.5

43

43.5

44

44.5

45

45.5

46

cont conflict

% f

ish

ret

urn

edhigh low

Study 3: Results

Summary of results

Study 1: NonCon conflict increased decision time, variance

Study 3: NonCon conflict increased use of environmental noise

All 3 markers of conflict without conscious awareness

Chapter 2:

Non-conscious goals are allocated resources

Study 1: Resources

“Multiple Experiments”

* Achievement Priming

* Measure working memory span (i.e., resources)

Study 1: Logic

Control

---

30 units

30 units

prime

task

Overalltask

Simplifying assumptions:* we have 100 units of available resources* a fixed proportion is allocated to every goal

Control Achievement

--- 30 units

30 units 21 units (30% x 70)

30 units 51 units

prime

task

Overalltask

Resources -- Logic

Simplifying assumptions:* we have 100 units of available resources* a fixed proportion is allocated to every goal

Study 1: “Automatic” SPANs

Procedure* Priming (word search)* RSPAN* Priming (subliminal)* OSPAN

Study 1: OSPAN

3 * 8 = 24 DOG

2 + 5 = 7 Flower

6 / 3 = 3 Computer

SURPISE CUE FOR RECALL

DV:-- Words recalled in their right order

7 * 1 = 7 Hat

…

Study 1: RSPAN

He loves tea DOG

Green ideas sleep Flower

George rules! Money

SURPISE CUE FOR RECALL

DV:-- Words recalled in their right order

Scottish sheep are great Hat

…

Study 1: Results OSPAN

40

45

50

55

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65

Prime

Control

Sp

an

Study 1: Results RSPAN

40

45

50

55

60

65

Prime

Control

Sp

an

Other Studies

Improved inhibition after achievement priming

Impaired inhibition after priming of fun, going out

Impaired inhibition after priming of personal goals

Chapter 3:

Non-conscious flexibility

Flexibility: The WCST

Wisconsin Card Sorting Test

Rules that determine correct sortings change

Subjects have to adapt to these changes

Study 1: Results

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100

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110

prime

Control

Correct Responses

Study 1: Results

10

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prime

Control

Infelxibility

Other Studies

More flexibility after flexibility priming

More flexibility in attribution tasks

Less flexibility after prevention priming

Four points of agreement

* EP are resource demanding

* Executive processes (EP) are necessary for flexibility, for overcoming the habitual

* EP are necessary for conflict control (e.g, self control)

* EP are conscious

Documents

The Non-Conscious Executive Ran R. Hassin The Hebrew University Many thanks to: Henk Aarts John Bargh Ruud Custers Baruch Eitam Tali Kleiman