On the goal-dependency of unconscious thought

Abstract

Recent research has shown that unconscious thought can improve the quality of complex decisions (Dijksterhuis, 2004; Dijksterhuis, Bos, Nordgren & Van Baaren, 2006). In the present research we investigate whether unconscious thought is goaldependent. In four experiments participants were given information pertaining to a decision problem or to an impression formation problem. Subsequently, they were either given time to think consciously about the information or they were distracted for some time, during which they could engage in unconscious thought. Of the participants that were distracted however, some were given the goal to further process the information, whereas others were not given such a goal. Our experiments clearly show that unconscious thought is goal-dependent. Without a goal, people do not engage in unconscious thought

Spontaneous Thought and Goal Pursuit: From Functions such as Planning to Dysfunctions such as Rumination

“…The reason for raising this point here is that one investigation (Bos, Dijksterhuis, & van Baaren, 2008) finds clearly that, in the absence of an experimentally induced goal to complete a task later, the contribution of unconscious thought to that task disappears. This supports the view that continuing the processing of task-relevant information depends on having established the current concern that underlies a goal pursuit.…”

A process-dissociation examination of the cognitive processes underlying unconscious thought

“…They were given 1 min for each problem, which pre-testing showed to be sufficient for reading the problems, but not for solving them. Then, participants were informed that they would have to solve the problem later, thus being given the goal that is necessary to induce unconscious thinking (Bos, Dijksterhuis, & van Baaren, 2008). In the conscious thought condition, participants were asked to "think very carefully about the problem for the next four minutes."…”

Towards Improving Educational Decisions by Utilizing Interdisciplinary Research

“…It is quite possible that creative and cognitive processes are involved. Bos, Dijksterhuis and Baaren (2008) indicate that the conscious mind's "decision" to acquire more information in the future is an essential condition for unconscious brain activity. Therefore, if we conclude that the improvement in the repeated decision was due to unconscious brain activities we must make the assumption that the participants viewed the information given at the time of the initial decision to be relevant for the future as well.…”