Behaviour Regulation
Overview of the literature for Behaviour Regulation 2020-2021
Introduction lecture
Strack & Deutsch (2004): Reflective-impulsive model of social behavior
Akrasia (sometimes people behave in ways that do not reflect their values), has been explained by
multiple perspectives:
1. Lack of knowledge
2. Behaviour can occur automatically (habits)
3. Drives
4. Freud; behaviour is multiply determined
5. Dual-process theories; two types of information processing (fast and slow)
(But, the models differ in whether the processes occur simultaneously or in an exclusive
manner)
(There are also inconsistencies in terminology)
(Do not explain behaviour, do not account for akrasia)
6. Two-systems theory; integration of behavioral, motivational, and cognitive components
(Processes operate in parallel, are concurrently active, and compete for an overt response)
Two-systems theory (Strack & Deutsch, 2004):
Social behavior is the result of different factors that can operate in accordance with each other, or
in conflict with each other.
They describe their model in 10 theses:
1. There are two information processing systems: a reflective (slow, deliberative) and an
impulsive (fast, automatic). They differ in principles of representation and information
processing;
Reflective system is based on a decision process. After a decision, appropriate
behavioral schemata is activated, through intending.
Impulsive system is based on spreading activation (based on perceptual input or other
reflective processes). Behaviour can be automatic, and can thus occur without an
intention or a goal. The activation of behavioral schemata may be moderated by
motivational orientations or deprivation.
2. The systems operate in parallel. The impulsive system is always engaged, while the
reflective system may be disengaged. Depending on the attention a stimulus receives, it
may enter the reflective system.
,3. Capacity. The reflective system requires high cognitive capacity. Distraction or (high and
low) arousal can interfere with its operations. The impulsive system requires low cognitive
capacity. Thus, under high cognitive load, the impulsive system may control
behavior.
The role of arousal.
4. Representation of elements. In the reflective system, elements are connected through
semantic relations with a truth value. In the impulsive system, elements are associative
links in an associative store (simple long-term memory system, slowly forms enduring links
(habits)), and are formed through contiguity and similarity (mutual activation). Through
frequent propositional categorization (reflective systems), associative links can also be
formed. Impulsive system comes with ‘experiential awareness’ (affective feelings can be
generated quickly, without any inferences).
Reflective system can be used to plan. The elements are retrieved from the impulsive
system, and reflective operations can alter the accessibility of the elements (anchoring,
priming, whatever, sadness induction, mood induction).
5. Execution of behavior. There is a final common pathway (behavioral schemata) to overt
behavior in the impulsive system, which can be activated by both the reflective and the
impulsive system. When the behavioral schema is activated above a certain threshold
(similarity to Berkman et al., 2017 value-based!), the behavior is executed. Behavioral
schemata can be understood as habits. More than one behavioral schemata can be
activated. There can also be conflicts (impulsive vs. reflective behaviours), and it depends
on the strength of activation for each schema. If the activated behavioral schemata are
from the two different systems, conditions that influence these systems are
important in deciding which behavioral schema is executed. Reflective: when there
is enough time and cognitive capacity. Impulsive: when there is a strong deprivation
of basic needs, or a motivational orientation.
6. Precursors of behavior. In the reflective system, behaviour is the result of a decision (but
this does not mean that it’s always a rational choice, since elements are still derived from
the impulsive store). In the impulsive system, behavior is the result of spreading activation
to behavioral schemata. To win a contest, the reflective system can apply knowledge about
the mechanisms of the impulsive system (link to process model Duckworth et al. ,2016).
7. Intending. When a decision is made (reflective system), there is a process of intending.
Intending monitors the impulsive system for information that helps to execute the chosen
behavior. When the behavior is executed, the intending stops.
8. Motivational orientations. The impulsive system can act more flexibly, by taking external
(motivational orientations) + internal conditions (homoeostatic regulation) into account. In
the impulsive system, processing of information and behaviour is mediated by motivational
, orientations (approach/avoid). These orientations can be influenced by different factors
(see article, but positive affect is approach, negative affect is avoid).
9. Compatibility. Information processing, experience of affect, and the execution of behavior
are facilitated when they are compatible with the motivational orientation.
Thus, if there is an approach orientation, this facilitates the processing of positive
information, positive affect, and execution of behavior. Vice versa.
Affect can have a direct effect on behaviour (impulsive), or mediated by categorization
(reflective).
Motivational orientations can affect the thresholds (page 234), lower thresholds for
congruent information, higher threshold for incongruent information. Can be affected
by approach/avoidance tasks.
10. Homoeostatic dysregulation. Deprivation of basic needs increases activation of behavioral
schemata that previously led to a satisfaction of the needs. (Food is recognized quicker
when someone is hungry).
Affect and emotion:
In the reflective-impulsive model, emotions are products of the reflective and impulsive system.
Behavioral schemata are impulsive influenced by habit strength, motivational orientation and
homeostatic dysregulation. Affect can influence behavior in two ways:
1. Core affect leads to a motivational orientation (approach/avoid)
2. Affective experiences can be propositionally categorized (reflective) and can lead to noetic
and behavioral decisions.
Automaticity:
Automaticity = without consciousness = without intention = hard to control (habits)
In the reflective-impulsive model, the impulsive system is automatic, while the reflective system
depends on cognitive resources. How can controlled processes become more automatic (link to
Papies & Aarts (2016))?.
Several mechanism are implied:
Contents from the associative store of the impulsive system are used, and activated during
reflective processing. If information is transformed through a syllogistic procedure, the input
to the procedure and the output will be activated in the impulsive system. Frequent
execution of this will lead to an associative link between the two contents.
The results of syllogistic procedures (reasoning procedures) can thus be stored in
memory and can eventually be retrieved in an automatic way (Logan, 1988). This does
not mean that the automatic responses only work in the same context. Instead, they
can also transfer to other contexts. Read p. 238 if you want to know more.
