Dual-process theory, behavioral research and the explanation of social inequalities

Abstract

Dual-process theory (DPT) has gained increased popularity in the social sciences. This approach is grounded on a large body of detailed studies from interdisciplinary behavioral research and provides a comprehensive treatment of reflective and intuitive logics of action. This article discusses how DPT can be articulated to federate a large array of micro-level mechanisms into a coherent theoretical framework for the purpose of explaining social inequalities and, more generally, social phenomena. Firstly, I argue that references to DPT in the social sciences are too generic and conceptually fuzzy. Researchers need to refrain from generic accounts of DPT and be more specific about the defining attributes of dual processing. I rely for this purpose on the convergent formulations of Evans, Stanovich and Kahneman. Secondly, I suggest that social scientists should move beyond the simple duality of processes to spell out the psychological architecture and dynamics of dual processing. This allows reseachers to derive a systematic set of explanatory mechanisms that are highly relevant to explain social phenomena. Thirdly, I suggest that a major strength of DPT is its emphasis on the situational activation of reflective and intuitive processes. This approach recognizes the explanatory relevance of both processes and, crucially, specifies their conditions of activation. Finally, I claim that DPT sheds light on a specific set of inequality-generating mechanisms that have been overlooked in mainstream social stratification theories.