Definition
The Rational-Experiential Inventory (REI) (Epstein et al. 1996; Norris and Epstein 2011; Pacini and Epstein 1999) assesses tendencies to engage in rational and experiential information processing, which are conceptualized as distinct thinking styles. A rational thinking style involves a predisposition to make decisions based on analytical, deliberative, and logical reasoning. An experiential thinking style involves a preference to make judgments based on immediate responses, intuition, and feelings.
Introduction
The REI (Epstein et al. 1996; Norris and Epstein 2011; Pacini and Epstein 1999) was developed to measure the extent to which an individual processes information with two systems proposed by cognitive-experiential self-theory (CEST) (Epstein 1994), which is now known as cognitive-experiential theory (CET) (Epstein 2014). According to CET, we each possess a rational information processing system that is conscious, relatively slow,...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Cacioppo, J. T., & Petty, R. E. (1982). The need for cognition. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 42(1), 116–131.
Epstein, S. (1994). Integration of the cognitive and the psychodynamic unconscious. American Psychologist, 49(8), 709–724. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.49.8.709.
Epstein, S. (2003). Cognitive-experiential self-theory of personality. In T. Millon & M. J. Lerner (Eds.), Comprehensive handbook of psychology (pp. 159–184). Hoboken: Wiley.
Epstein, S. (2014). Cognitive-experiential theory: An integrative theory of personality. New York: Oxford University Press.
Epstein, S., Pacini, R., Denes-Raj, V., & Heier, H. (1996). Individual differences in intuitive-experiential and analytical-rational thinking styles. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 71(2), 390–405. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.71.2.390.
Marks, A. D. G., Hine, D. W., Blore, R. L., & Phillips, W. J. (2008). Assessing individual differences in adolescents’ preference for rational and experiential cognition. Personality and Individual Differences, 44(1), 42–52. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2007.07.006.
Norris, P., & Epstein, S. (2011). An experiential thinking style: Its facets and relations with objective and subjective criterion measures. Journal of Personality, 79(5), 1043–1080. doi:10.1111/j.1467-6494.2011.00718.x.
Norris, P., Pacini, R., & Epstein, S. (1998). The rational-experiential inventory, short form (Unpublished inventory). University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Pacini, R., & Epstein, S. (1999). The relation of rational and experiential information processing styles to personality, basic beliefs, and the ratio-bias phenomenon. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 76(6), 972–972. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.76.6.972.
Phillips, W. J., Fletcher, J. M., Marks, A. D. G., & Hine, D. W. (2016). Thinking styles and decision making: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 142(3), 260–290. doi:10.1037/bul0000027.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Section Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Phillips, W.J. (2017). Rational-Experiential Inventory. In: Zeigler-Hill, V., Shackelford, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_68-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_68-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-28099-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-28099-8
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences