University of Aberdeen

Exploring self-prioritization: Scrutinising theoretical claims using computational modelling

It has been argued that following an association with the self even arbitrary stimuli (e.g., shapes, lines, colours) with no prior personal connection are privileged during information processing – the so-called self-prioritization effect. This prioritization, moreover, is deemed to be stimulus-driven (i.e., automatic), grounded in perception, and supported by specialized processing operations. In this talk, I will scrutinize a selection of these claims and challenge the dominant theoretical viewpoint by utilising computational cognitive modelling approaches (e.g., drift diffusion modelling).