Why decision making may not require awareness.
Newell & Shanks (N&S) argue against the idea that any significant role for unconscious influences on decision making has been established by research to date. Inasmuch as this conclusion applies to the idea of an "intelligent cognitive unconscious," we would agree. Our concern is that the article could lead the unwary to conclude that there are no unconscious influences on decision making - and never could be. We give reasons why this may not be the case.
Washington Singer Laboratories, School of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QG, United Kingdom. i.p.l.mclaren@exeter.ac.uk B.D.Dunn@exeter.ac.uk Natalia.Lawrence@exeter.ac.uk f.n.milton@ex.ac.uk F.L.J.Verbruggen@exeter.ac.uk t.stevens@ex.ac.uk am375@exeter.ac.uk fy212@exeter.ac.uk.
I P L
IP
McLaren
Washington Singer Laboratories, School of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QG, United Kingdom. i.p.l.mclaren@exeter.ac.uk B.D.Dunn@exeter.ac.uk Natalia.Lawrence@exeter.ac.uk f.n.milton@ex.ac.uk F.L.J.Verbruggen@exeter.ac.uk t.stevens@ex.ac.uk am375@exeter.ac.uk fy212@exeter.ac.uk.
B D
BD
Dunn
Washington Singer Laboratories, School of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QG, United Kingdom. i.p.l.mclaren@exeter.ac.uk B.D.Dunn@exeter.ac.uk Natalia.Lawrence@exeter.ac.uk f.n.milton@ex.ac.uk F.L.J.Verbruggen@exeter.ac.uk t.stevens@ex.ac.uk am375@exeter.ac.uk fy212@exeter.ac.uk.
N S
NS
Lawrence
Washington Singer Laboratories, School of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QG, United Kingdom. i.p.l.mclaren@exeter.ac.uk B.D.Dunn@exeter.ac.uk Natalia.Lawrence@exeter.ac.uk f.n.milton@ex.ac.uk F.L.J.Verbruggen@exeter.ac.uk t.stevens@ex.ac.uk am375@exeter.ac.uk fy212@exeter.ac.uk.
F N
FN
Milton
Washington Singer Laboratories, School of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QG, United Kingdom. i.p.l.mclaren@exeter.ac.uk B.D.Dunn@exeter.ac.uk Natalia.Lawrence@exeter.ac.uk f.n.milton@ex.ac.uk F.L.J.Verbruggen@exeter.ac.uk t.stevens@ex.ac.uk am375@exeter.ac.uk fy212@exeter.ac.uk.
F
F
Verbruggen
Washington Singer Laboratories, School of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QG, United Kingdom. i.p.l.mclaren@exeter.ac.uk B.D.Dunn@exeter.ac.uk Natalia.Lawrence@exeter.ac.uk f.n.milton@ex.ac.uk F.L.J.Verbruggen@exeter.ac.uk t.stevens@ex.ac.uk am375@exeter.ac.uk fy212@exeter.ac.uk.
T
T
Stevens
Washington Singer Laboratories, School of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QG, United Kingdom. i.p.l.mclaren@exeter.ac.uk B.D.Dunn@exeter.ac.uk Natalia.Lawrence@exeter.ac.uk f.n.milton@ex.ac.uk F.L.J.Verbruggen@exeter.ac.uk t.stevens@ex.ac.uk am375@exeter.ac.uk fy212@exeter.ac.uk.
A
A
McAndrew
Washington Singer Laboratories, School of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QG, United Kingdom. i.p.l.mclaren@exeter.ac.uk B.D.Dunn@exeter.ac.uk Natalia.Lawrence@exeter.ac.uk f.n.milton@ex.ac.uk F.L.J.Verbruggen@exeter.ac.uk t.stevens@ex.ac.uk am375@exeter.ac.uk fy212@exeter.ac.uk.
F
F
Yeates
D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D014473:Unconscious, Psychology