Key Psychology Concepts: Cognition, Reasoning, Heuristics, and Language

Cognition

How information is processed and manipulated when remembering, thinking, and knowing.

Concepts

Mental categories used to group objects, events, and characteristics.

Prototype Model

The idea that people use characteristic properties to create a representation of the average or ideal member of a concept.

Fixation

Using a prior strategy when a new strategy might work better.

Functional Fixedness

Fixating on an object's usual function and failing to see other possible uses.

Inductive Reasoning

Reasoning that goes from specific observations to a general conclusion; bottom-up.

Deductive Reasoning

Reasoning that goes from a general principle to a specific conclusion; top-down.

System 1 Thinking

Fast, automatic, intuitive, and heuristic thinking.

System 2 Thinking

Slower, controlled, effortful, and analytical thinking.

Confirmation Bias

Searching for information that supports your existing ideas.

Availability Heuristic

Judging probability based on how easily examples come to mind.

Representativeness Heuristic

Making judgments based on stereotypes or how representative something seems.

Critical Thinking

Thinking reflectively and productively while evaluating evidence.

Divergent Thinking

Thinking that produces many possible solutions.

Convergent Thinking

Thinking that focuses on finding a single best solution.

Validity

Whether a test actually measures what it is supposed to measure.

Reliability

Whether test performance is consistent.

IQ

A measure of intelligence calculated in the traditional formula as (mental age / chronological age) × 100.

Triarchic Theory of Intelligence

Sternberg's theory involving analytical, creative, and practical intelligence.

Language

A system of symbols used for communication; it can be spoken, written, or signed.

Phonology, Morphology, Syntax, Semantics, Pragmatics

The five major parts of language: sounds, word formation, sentence structure, meaning, and language use.