Psyc cognition unit

perception

the process by which our brain organizes and interprets sensory info

Bottom up processing

starting with small details and then building up to a complete perception

Top down processing

interpreting sensory info based on starting with the larger context, prior to knowledge and expectations 

selective attention 

the process of focusing on a specific aspect of info while ignoring others 

Cocktail party effect

focusing on a single conversation in a noisy enviroment, like a crowded party

inattentional blindness

an individual fails to notice an unexpected stimulus in their visual field when their attention is focused on something else

change blindness 

the failure to notice large changes in ones enviroment when the change occurs a lot within a visual disruption 

schemas

mental frameworks that help us organize and interpret info in the world around us

perceptual set

when your expectations, experiences, or emotions make you perceive things in a certain way (old hag image)

gestalt psychology 

we perceive objects or figures (gestalts) rather than just a collection of parts (fruit face image)

Figure-ground

the ability to distinguish an object from its surroundings

binocular depth cues

visual info that requires both eyes to perceive both depth and distance

retinal disparity

when each eye sees a slightly different picture because of their seperate positions on our face

convergence 

when our eyes move inward toward eachother to focus on a close object 

relative clarity

a depth cue where objects that are clearer and more detailed are perceived as closer to us, and blurry ones are farther away

relative size

objects closer to us appear larger, and more farther away appear smaller

texture gradient 

texture becomes finer as it perceives into the distance, helps us understand depth 

linear perspective

parallel lines appear to converge as they recede into the distance

interposition

when one object overlaps another, leading to perceive the overlapping object as closer

perceptual constancies 

brains ability to see objects as unchanging even when the image on our retina changes 

shape constancy

ability to perceive an object as having the same shape even when our angle of view changes

size constancy

perception that an object remains the same size, even when the distance changes from us 

colour constancy

ability to perceive colour if objects as stable under varying lightining conditions

metacognition

thinking about ones own thinking processes

executive functions

allow individuals to generate, organize and plan goal-directed behaviors and experience critical thinking 

prototypes

mental image or best example of a category that aids in recognizing and categorizing objects or concepts

Assimilation

the cognitive process of fitting new info onto existing schemas

accomodation 

modifying existing schemas or creating new ones in response to new info  

convergent thinking

focuses on finding a single correct solution to a problem by applying logical steps

functional fixedness

cognitive bias that limits a person to using an object only used in the way its traditionally used

algorithms 

step by step procedures or formulas for solving problems that guarantee a correct solution 

divergent thinking

thought process used to generate creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions, includes creativity

heuristics

mental shortcuts that simplify decision-making by reducing the cognitive burden, not always correct

representativeness heuristic 

judging based on stereotypes 

avaliability heuristic

judging on how easily something comes to mind

mental set

tendancy to approach situations in a certain way because that method worked in the past

priming 

exposure to one stimulus influences the response to a subsequent stimulus, having bright colored produce at front of a grocery store 

framing

how information is presented influences decisions and perceptions

gamblers fallacy

when individuals believe the outcome of a random event is influenced by previous outcomes

sink-cost fallacy 

individuals continue investing time, money, or effort into decisions because they already invested so much 

general intelligence

mental ability that influences preformance on various cognitive tasks

multiple intelligence

individuals posess different types of intelligence beyond traditional measures

growth mindset 

the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and effort 

fixed mindset

belief that intelligence is predetermined and cannot be changed