Dual process theory

In psychology, a dual process theory provides an account of how a phenomenon can occur in two different ways. Often, the two processes consist of an automatic, unconscious process and a controlled, conscious process.

Dual process models have been developed in the study of attitude change; for instance, Petty & Cacioppo's Elaboration Likelihood Model or Chaiken's Heuristic Systematic Model. There are also dual-process models of social judgement, like Fiske & Neuberg's or Tetlock's.