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Newell and Shanks' approach to psychology is a dead end

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 January 2014

Ap Dijksterhuis
Affiliation:
Department of Social Psychology, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, 6525 HR Nijmegen, The Netherlands. a.dijksterhuis@psych.ru.nla.vanknippenberg@psych.ru.nlr.holland@psych.ru.nlh.veling@psych.ru.nl
Ad van Knippenberg
Affiliation:
Department of Social Psychology, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, 6525 HR Nijmegen, The Netherlands. a.dijksterhuis@psych.ru.nla.vanknippenberg@psych.ru.nlr.holland@psych.ru.nlh.veling@psych.ru.nl
Rob W. Holland
Affiliation:
Department of Social Psychology, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, 6525 HR Nijmegen, The Netherlands. a.dijksterhuis@psych.ru.nla.vanknippenberg@psych.ru.nlr.holland@psych.ru.nlh.veling@psych.ru.nl
Harm Veling
Affiliation:
Department of Social Psychology, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, 6525 HR Nijmegen, The Netherlands. a.dijksterhuis@psych.ru.nla.vanknippenberg@psych.ru.nlr.holland@psych.ru.nlh.veling@psych.ru.nl

Abstract

Newell & Shanks (N&S) criticize theories on decision making that include unconscious processes. To the extent that their own perspective becomes apparent, however, it is dated, implausible, and at odds with the major developments of the past decades. Their conclusions are, at least for research areas we feel entitled to evaluate, based on a biased sampling of the literature.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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