WVU Psych 101 Flashcards: Key Terms from Chapters 7-9

Algorithm

problem-solving strategy characterized by a specific set of instructions

analytical intelligence

aligned with academic problem solving and computations

anchoring bias

faulty heuristic in which you fixate on a single aspect of a problem to find a solution

artificial concept

concept that is defined by a very specific set of characteristics

availability heuristic

faulty heuristic in which you make a decision based on information readily available to you

cognition

thinking, including perception, learning, problem solving, judgment, and memory

cognitive psychology

field of psychology dedicated to studying every aspect of how people think

cognitive script

set of behaviors that are performed the same way each time; also referred to as an event schema

concept

category or grouping of linguistic information, objects, ideas, or life experiences

confirmation bias

faulty heuristic in which you focus on information that confirms your beliefs

convergent thinking

providing correct or established answers to problems

creative intelligence

ability to produce new products, ideas, or inventing a new, novel solution to a problem

creativity

ability to generate, create, or discover new ideas, solutions, and possibilities

crystallized intelligence

characterized by acquired knowledge and the ability to retrieve it

cultural intelligence

ability with which people can understand and relate to those in another culture

divergent thinking

ability to think "outside the box" to arrive at novel solutions to a problem

dyscalculia

learning disability that causes difficulty in learning or comprehending mathematics

dysgraphia

learning disability that causes extreme difficulty in writing legibly

dyslexia

common learning disability in which letters are not processed properly by the brain

emotional intelligence

ability to understand emotions and motivations in yourself and others

event schema

set of behaviors that are performed the same way each time; also referred to as a cognitive script

fluid intelligence

ability to see complex relationships and solve problems

Flynn effect

observation that each generation has a significantly higher IQ than the previous generation

functional fixedness

inability to see an object as useful for any other use other than the one for which it was intended

grammar

set of rules that are used to convey meaning through the use of a lexicon

heuristic

mental shortcut that saves time when solving a problem

hindsight bias

belief that the event just experienced was predictable, even though it really wasn't

intelligence quotient

(also, IQ) score on a test designed to measure intelligence

language

communication system that involves using words to transmit information from one individual to another

lexicon

the words of a given language

mental set

continually using an old solution to a problem without results

morpheme

smallest unit of language that conveys some type of meaning

multiple intelligence theory

Gardner's theory that each person possesses at least eight types of intelligence

natural concept

mental groupings that are created "naturally" through your experiences

norming

administering a test to a large population so data can be collected to reference the normal scores for a population and its groups

overgeneralization

extension of a rule that exists in a given language to an exception to the rule

phoneme

basic sound unit of a given language

practical intelligence

aka "street smarts"

problem solving strategy

method for solving problems

prototype

best representation of a concept

range of reaction

each person's response to the environment is unique based on their genetic make-up

representative bias

faulty heuristic in which you stereotype someone or something without a valid basis for your judgment

representative sample

subset of the population that accurately represents the general population

role schema

set of expectations that define the behaviors of a person occupying a particular role

schema

(plural = schemata) mental construct consisting of a cluster or collection of related concepts

semantics

process by which we derive meaning from morphemes and words

standard deviation

measure of variability that describes the difference between a set of scores and their mean

standardization

method of testing in which administration, scoring, and interpretation of results are consistent

syntax

manner by which words are organized into sentences

trial and error

problem-solving strategy in which multiple solutions are attempted until the correct one is found

triachric theory of intelligence

Sternberg's theory of intelligence; three facets of intelligence: practical, creative, and analytical

working backwards

heuristic in which you begin to solve a problem by focusing on the end result

absentmindedness

lapses in memory that are caused by breaks in attention or our focus being somewhere else

acoustic encoding

input of sounds, words, and music

amnesia

loss of long-term memory that occurs as the result of disease, physical trauma, or psychological trauma

anterograde amnesia

loss of memory for events that occur after the brain trauma

arousal theory

strong emotions trigger the formation of strong memories and weaker emotional experiences form weaker memories

Atkinson-Shiffrin model

memory model that states we process information through three systems: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory

automatic processing

encoding of informational details like time, space, frequency, and the meaning of words

bias

how feelings and view of the world distort memory of past events

blocking

memory error in which you cannot access stored information

chunking

organizing information into manageable bits or chunks

construction

formulation of new memories

declarative memory

type of long-term memory of facts and events we personally experience

effortful processing

encoding of information that takes effort and attention

elaborative rehearsal

thinking about the meaning of new information and its relation to knowledge already stored in your memory

encoding

input of information into the memory system

engram

physical trace of memory

episodic memory

type of declarative memory that contains information about events we have personally experienced, also known as autobiographical memory

equipotentiality hypothesis

some parts of the brain can take over for damaged parts in forming and storing memories

explicit memory

memories we consciously try to remember and recall

false memory syndrome

recall of false autobiographical memories

flashbulb memory

exceptionally clear recollection of an important event

forgetting

loss of information from long-term memory

implicit memory

memories that are not part of our consciousness

levels of processing

information that is thought of more deeply becomes more meaningful and thus better committed to memory

long term memory

continuous storage of information

memory

set of processes used to encode, store, and retrieve information over different periods of time

memory enhancing strategy

technique to help make sure information goes from short-term memory to long-term memory

misattribution

memory error in which you confuse the source of your information

misinformation effect paradigm

after exposure to additional and possibly inaccurate information, a person may misremember the original event

mnemonic device

memory aids that help organize information for encoding

persistence

failure of the memory system that involves the involuntary recall of unwanted memories, particularly unpleasant ones

proactive interference

old information hinders the recall of newly learned information

procedural memory

type of long-term memory for making skilled actions, such as how to brush your teeth, how to drive a car, and how to swim

recall

accessing information without cues

recognition

identifying previously learned information after encountering it again, usually in response to a cue

reconstruction

process of bringing up old memories that might be distorted by new information

rehearsal

repetition of information to be remembered

relearning

learning information that was previously learned

retrieval

act of getting information out of long-term memory storage and back into conscious awareness

retroactive interference

information learned more recently hinders the recall of older information

retrograde amnesia

loss of memory for events that occurred prior to brain trauma

self reference effect

tendency for an individual to have better memory for information that relates to oneself in comparison to material that has less personal relevance

semantic encoding

input of words and their meaning

semantic memory

type of declarative memory about words, concepts, and language-based knowledge and facts

sensory memory

storage of brief sensory events, such as sights, sounds, and tastes

short term memory

holds about seven bits of information before it is forgotten or stored, as well as information that has been retrieved and is being used

storage

creation of a permanent record of information

suggestibility

effects of misinformation from external sources that leads to the creation of false memories