Intuitive Cognition

Here is an interesting study that indicates that overcoming peoples intuitive beliefs is more difficult than just teaching the facts.

quote:

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Though additional components of the model remain to be tested, results reported here indicate that a product of intuitive cognitions, FOC (feelings of certainty), strongly moderates acceptance of evolution. This finding is both encouraging and sobering. On one hand, we have identified a previously unexamined factor that seems strongly predictive of level of acceptance of evolution. On the other hand, we seem to have uncovered a factor that represents a category of cognitions, intuitive cognitions, for which we have little to guide us in designing educational interventions.

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On a side note, I thought that MSNBC's report on the study was both telling and ironic.

Hi Dogmafood and also comes into play in the political arena, where FOC are treated as more important than issues or facts?Enjoyps -- can anyone say "cognitive dissonance"?Edited by Zen Deist, :

It would seem that our instinct is to be only partially rational

Most of our thinking is irrational. And it is a good thing, too. Depressed people are more accurate in predicting outcomes than non-depressed people (who tend to predict more positive outcomes).It seems that moderately depressed people are inherently more realistic than the non-morbid population. Most people are irrationally optimistic.Humans are constantly modelling the future but it is through the lens of the individual's core beliefs or schemata.These can be incredibly resistant to change and make my job a lot harder .People can a do change their core beliefs and schemata but normally it requires some form of therapeutic input.Edited by Larni, : Clarity of thought.

Hi Larni, That's a depressing thought. Or does it indicate that the positive outcome of the GOP primaries are overblown? And like the joke about the number of psychologists it takes to change a lightbulb (1 but) the bulbs have to want to change.Enjoy.

Hi again Dogmafood No matter how much we try to hide it behind a facade of rationality, the instinct seems to be to pick a course of action\argument (based on personal worldview) and then justify it.Enjoy.