People use heuristics, even though these produce wrong answers to problems. The present research tested an explanation for this seemingly irrational phenomenon. People use heuristics to preserve mental energy and avoid self-regulatory failures that occur when one’s mental resources become depleted (i.e., ego depletion). Three studies tested different hypotheses derived from this model. Study 1 found that people assigned to complete a depleting task (compared to an easy, non-depleting task) subsequently used more heuristics to solve word problems. Study 2 found that people assigned to use intuition (rather than controlled thinking) to solve the same set of problems were more likely to use heuristics to solve the problems. Crucially, using intuition also improved performance on a subsequent self-control task (the Stroop test). Study 3 found that people who merely anticipated a future effortful task (compared to anticipating no future task) were more likely to use heuristics to solve the problems currently in front of them. People high in trait self-control were especially likely to use heuristics in this apparently strategic manner. Surprisingly, however, people were seemingly unaware that they had adopted the strategy to use heuristics to save energy for the future. Overall, the results supported the idea that one reason for cognitive miserliness is to avoid ego depletion. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Psychology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Summer Semester 2016. / June 10, 2016. / cognitive miserliness, cognitive reflection, decision making, ego depletion, heuristics, self-regulation / Includes bibliographical references. / Roy Baumeister, Professor Directing Dissertation; Al Mele, University Representative; E. Ashby Plant, Committee Member; James McNulty, Committee Member; Colleen Kelley, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_366130 |
| Contributors | Vonasch, Andrew James (authoraut), Baumeister, Roy F. (professor directing dissertation), Mele, Alfred R., 1951- (university representative), Plant, Ashby (committee member), McNulty, James (committee member), Kelley, Colleen M. (committee member), Florida State University (degree granting institution), College of Arts and Sciences (degree granting college), Department of Psychology (degree granting department) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource (90 pages), computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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