Does Speeded Decision-Making Reveal Tacit Teleological Tendencies?

Previous research suggests that people implicitly believe biological and nonbiological natural entities exist to fulfil certain functions (i.e., hold implicit teleological beliefs). The standard experimental paradigm used demonstrate this is compare rates of acceptance in an un-speeded condition a speeded condition. As decision-making limits the opportunity engage reflective thought, increased relative are said provide evidence beliefs. Across two large online studies, we show due exclusion criteria typically paradigm, included excluded participants vary systemically important ways between conditions, during responding does not Rather, difference conditions can be explained by explanations which objectively false. Furthermore, key assumption underpinning use – accepting should effortless rejecting them require effort supported data. These results highlight only methodological issue, but also theoretical issue current literature. We discuss implications these findings context existing empirical literature on reasoning dual-process theory more generally.