scholarly journals Diversity may help the uninterested: Evidence that exposure to counter-stereotypes promotes cognitive reflection for people low (but not high) in need for cognition

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 1079-1093 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ekaterina Damer ◽  
Thomas L. Webb ◽  
Richard J. Crisp
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Diversity ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cognitive Activity ◽  
Need For Cognition ◽  
Cognitive Reflection ◽  
Consistent Support

Previous theorizing and research has linked exposure to counter-stereotypical diversity (e.g., an Oxford-educated bricklayer) to enhanced cognitive performance and creativity. However, it is unclear whether people’s motivation to cognitively engage with the counter-stereotypical information (i.e., need for cognition [NFC]) influences this effect. Across three experiments ( N = 887) we found consistent support for the idea that exposure to counter-stereotypes (CSTs) promotes cognitive reflection for people low in NFC ( d+ = .34). In contrast, people high in NFC showed decreased cognitive reflection after being exposed to CSTs ( d+ = −.18), although the evidence for the latter effect was weak. These findings suggest that exposure to CSTs can promote cognitive reflection unless people have a strong desire to understand and predict outcomes and events, in which case exposure to CSTs may backfire. Taken together, we conclude that motivation to engage in cognitive activity may be an important consideration for research and interventions involving social and cultural diversity.

scholarly journals Diversity May Help the Uninterested: Evidence that Exposure to Counter-stereotypes Promotes Cognitive Reflection for People Low (But not High) in Need for Cognition

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ekaterina Damer ◽  
Thomas Llewelyn Webb ◽  
Richard J. Crisp
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cognitive Activity ◽  
Need For Cognition ◽  
Diversity Experiences ◽  
Cognitive Reflection ◽  
Consistent Support

Previous theorizing and research has linked exposure to counter-stereotypical diversity (e.g., an Oxford-educated bricklayer) to enhanced cognitive performance and creativity. However, it is unclear whether people’s motivation to cognitively engage with the counter-stereotypical information (i.e., need for cognition, NFC) influences this effect. Across three experiments (N = 887) we found consistent support for the idea that exposure to counter-stereotypes (CSTs) promotes cognitive reflection for people low in NFC (d+ = .34). In contrast, people high in NFC showed decreased cognitive reflection after being exposed to CSTs (d+ = -.18), although the evidence for the latter effect was weak. These findings suggest that exposure to CSTs can promote cognitive reflection unless people have a strong desire to understand and predict outcomes and events, in which case exposure to CSTs may backfire. Taken together, we conclude that motivation to engage in cognitive activity may be an important consideration for research and interventions involving expectancy-violating diversity experiences.

scholarly journals Investment Trait, Activity Engagement, and Age: Independent Effects on Cognitive Ability

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie von Stumm
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Age Differences ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Cognitive Activity ◽  
Need For Cognition ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Aging Research ◽  
Activity Engagement ◽  
Investment Theory

In cognitive aging research, the “engagement hypothesis” suggests that the participation in cognitively demanding activities helps maintain better cognitive performance in later life. In differential psychology, the “investment” theory proclaims that age differences in cognition are influenced by personality traits that determine when, where, and how people invest their ability. Although both models follow similar theoretical rationales, they differ in their emphasis of behavior (i.e., activity engagement) versus predisposition (i.e., investment trait). The current study compared a cognitive activity engagement scale (i.e., frequency of participation) with an investment trait scale (i.e., need for cognition) and tested their relationship with age differences in cognition in 200 British adults. Age was negatively associated with fluid and positively with crystallized ability but had no relationship with need for cognition and activity engagement. Need for cognition was positively related to activity engagement and cognitive performance; activity engagement, however, was not associated with cognitive ability. Thus, age differences in cognitive ability were largely independent of engagement and investment.

Need for Cognition and Irrational Beliefs

1997 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 685-690 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Mahoney ◽  
Douglas Kaufman
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Irrational Beliefs ◽  
Irrational Belief ◽  
Cognitive Activity ◽  
Need For Cognition ◽  
Process Variable ◽  
Minimum Threshold ◽  
Content Variable ◽  
Self Examination ◽  
The Relationship

A total of 149 college students, 48 men and 101 women, completed the Irrational Beliefs and the Need for Cognition scales to assess irrationality and the tendency to engage in effortful cognitive activity. Although substantial overlap between the constructs was found ( r = –.29, p < .001), the relationship was not linear. Need for Cognition appears to be a process variable, while irrational belief appears to be a content variable. Results suggest that the Need for Cognition must achieve a minimum threshold before spontaneous critical self-examination can occur.

MODERATING EFFECTS OF NEED FOR COGNITION ON ATTRACTIVENESS STEREOTYPING

2001 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 313-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur H. Perlini ◽  
Samantha D. Hansen
Keyword(s):  
Personality Traits ◽  
Physical Attractiveness ◽  
Cognitive Activity ◽  
Need For Cognition ◽  
Moderating Effects ◽  
Peripheral Cues ◽  
Moderating Role

The present study investigated the moderating role of need for cognition (NFC), the tendency to engage in, and enjoy, effortful cognitive activity, on the attractiveness bias. Based on previous research suggesting that people low in NFC are more strongly influenced by peripheral cues of persuasion (including physical attractiveness), it was expected that such individuals, compared to those high in NFC, would exhibit a stronger tendency to attribute socially desirable traits to attractive persons. Participants high and low in NFC rated one of four photographs that varied in attractiveness and sex on 17 bipolar personality traits. While both high and low NFC participants rated the attractive target photographs as more socially desirable than the unattractive photographs, the magnitude of this effect was substantially larger for the low NFC participants. The findings suggest that NFC plays a moderating role in the attractiveness bias.

scholarly journals Cognitive activity relates to cognitive performance but not to Alzheimer disease biomarkers

Neurology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher M. Gidicsin ◽  
Jacqueline E. Maye ◽  
Joseph J. Locascio ◽  
Lesley C. Pepin ◽  
Marlie Philiossaint ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer Disease ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cognitive Activity ◽  
Disease Biomarkers

A-174 Diurnal Preference Relation to Need for Cognition and Cognitive Reflection

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1229-1229
Author(s):  
Jasmin H Pizer ◽  
Melissa A Myers ◽  
Nanako A Hawley ◽  
Murphy N Harrell ◽  
Benjamin D Hill
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Preference Relation ◽  
Need For Cognition ◽  
Cognitive Reflection Test ◽  
Cognitive Reflection ◽  
Diurnal Preference ◽  
Test Engagement ◽  
Main Effects ◽  
Cognition Scale

Abstract Objective This study evaluated the effect of individual differences in diurnal preferences on a problem-solving test of intelligence and a measure of a personality trait of how much someone enjoys thinking. Method Archival data from 85 participants who had completed measures online were utilized in this study. The sample was 51.8% female, 71.8% Caucasian, and mean age was 19.5. Participants completed the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), Composite Morningness Questionnaire (CMQ), Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT), and Need for Cognition Scale-Short Form (NFC). Raw score totals were utilized. Diurnal preferences were later grouped for morning, evening, or in between based on published MEQ and CMQ cutoffs. Lower scores indicate evening types, and higher scores indicate morning types. Results Scores on measures of diurnal preference were significantly positively related to NFC (MEQ r = 0.28, p = 0.011; CMQ r = 0.36, p = 0.001) meaning that morning types tend to enjoy effortful mentation more. Diurnal preferences were not significantly related to CRT performance. One-way ANOVA was performed with diurnal preferences as the group factor and NFC and CRT as dependent variables. Significant main effects were not found for MEQ and NFC nor MEQ and CRT. Significant main effects were found for CMQ and NFC F(2,77) = 5.33, p = 0.007, but not for CMQ and CRT. Conclusion These findings indicate that diurnal preference was not associated with performance on the problem-solving intelligence test used in this study. However, morning types appear to be higher for personality traits related to motivation to engage in thinking and would be expected to do better on some cognitive tests that demand more test engagement.

scholarly journals Negative Moderating Effect of General Self-Efficacy on the Relationship between Need for Cognition and Cognitive Effort

2011 ◽  
Vol 109 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kishore Gopalakrishna Pillai ◽  
Ronald E. Goldsmith ◽  
Michael Giebelhausen
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Boundary Condition ◽  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Cognitive Activity ◽  
Need For Cognition ◽  
Cognitive Effort ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
General Self Efficacy

This study demonstrates the negative moderating effect of general self-efficacy on the relationship between need for cognition, which refers to stable individual differences in people's tendencies to engage in and enjoy cognitive activity, and cognitive effort. This negative moderating effect of general self-efficacy has been termed “plasticity.” Scholars assume the relationship between need for cognition and cognitive effort is true by definition. The study uses data from 144 U.S. college students and employs moderated regression analysis followed by subgroup analysis to demonstrate plasticity. The results set a boundary condition to the generally presumed relationship between need for cognition and cognitive effort, thereby improving the understanding of how these phenomena are related.

scholarly journals Concurrent and Longitudinal Relationships Between Cognitive Activity, Cognitive Performance, and Brain Volume in Older Adult Women

2014 ◽  
Vol 69 (6) ◽  
pp. 826-836 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Vaughan ◽  
K. I. Erickson ◽  
M. A. Espeland ◽  
J. C. Smith ◽  
H. A. Tindle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Brain Volume ◽  
Cognitive Activity ◽  
Adult Women ◽  
Longitudinal Relationships

scholarly journals Important considerations when assessing the effect of essential fatty acids on cognitive performance

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aayush Visaria ◽  
David Lo ◽  
Pranay Maniar
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Essential Fatty Acids ◽  
Cognitive Activity ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Past ◽  
Health And Nutrition ◽  
Mental Comorbidities ◽  
Cross Sectional Studies ◽  
Methodological Considerations

Abstract Over the past decade, there have been many studies determining the effect of dietary ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids intake on cognitive performance; however, they have largely been inconsistent in their conclusions. In this letter, we provide context to the article by Dong et al., titled “Association of dietary ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids intake with cognitive performance in older adults: National Health and nutrition examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2014” and provide methodological considerations with regards to covariate measurement and inclusion that can be generalized to future cross-sectional studies. In particular, delineating 1) the type and source of fatty acid, in context of an individual’s overall dietary patterns, 2) sociobehavioral risk factors and physical & mental comorbidities, 3) and daily cognitive activity are important to adequately control for covariates.

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