2.2a Thinking, Problem Solving, Judgments, and Decision Making: Concepts and Creativity

Cognition

All the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating

Metacognition

Cognition about our cognition; keeping track of and evaluating our mental processes

Concepts

A mental grouping of similar objects, events, ideas, or people

Schemas

A concept or framework that organizes and interprets information

Assimilate

Interpreting our new experiences in terms of our existing schemas

Aommodate

Adapting our current schemas (understandings) to incorporate new information

Creativity

The ability to produce new and valuable ideas

Convergent thinking

Narrowing the available problem solutions to determine the single best solution

Divergent thinking

Expanding the number of possible problem solutions; creative thinking that diverges in different directions