AP PSYCH: Unit Two: Cognition

Module Two

Cognition

Mental activities: thinking, knowing, remembering

Metacognition

Mental activities: thinking, knowing, remembering

Concept

Mental grouping of similar objects or ideas

Prototype

Best example of a concept

Schema

Framework organizing knowledge and experiences

Assimilation

Interpreting new information using existing schemas

Accommodation

Adjusting schemas to fit new information

Creativity

Ability to produce novel, valuable ideas

Convergent Thinking

Narrowing options to one solution

Divergent Thinking

Expanding options; many possible solutions

Executive Functions

Cognitive control skills: planning, focus, inhibition

Algorithm

Step-by-step procedure guaranteeing solution

Heuristics

Mental shortcuts for quick judgments

Insight

Sudden realization of problem’s solution

Confirmation Bias

Favoring information supporting existing beliefs

Fixation

Inability to see problem differently

Functional Fixedness

Seeing objects only in usual roles

Mental Set

Tendency to solve problems same way

Intuition

Gut-Feeling

Representative Heuristic

Judging likelihood by similarity to steroetype

Availability Heuristic

Judging likelihood by ease of recall

Belief Perseverance

Clinging to beliefs despite contradictory evidence

Gambler’s Fallacy

The assumption a probability changes depending on post results

Sunk-Cost Fallacy

Continuing due to past investment

Framing

How information presentatioHow information presentation influences decisions

n influences decisions

Nudge

How information presentation influences decisions