Dual process theory

In psychology, a dual process theory provides an account of how a phenomenon can occur in two different ways, or as a result of two different processes. Often, the two processes consist of an automatic, unconscious process and a controlled, conscious process. Dual process theories can be found in social, personality, cognitive, and clinical psychology. According to Barrett, Tugadea and Engle (2004), attention and working memory can be viewed as a function of this model.

Dual process models have been developed in the study of social psychological variables, particularly attitude change. Examples include Petty & Cacioppo's Elaboration Likelihood Model and Chaiken's Heuristic Systematic Model. There are also dual-process models of social judgement, such as Fiske & Neuberg's or Tetlock's.