Thinking & Intelligence

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts related to cognition, language, problem-solving, intelligence, and creativity.

Cognition

The mental process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses.

Concepts

Categories of linguistic information, images, ideas, or memories used to see relationships among different elements of experience.

Prototype

The best example or representation of a concept.

Natural Concepts

Concepts created naturally through either direct or indirect experience, such as our concept of 'snow'.

Artificial Concepts

Concepts defined by a specific set of characteristics, e.g., properties of geometric shapes like squares or triangles.

Schema

A mental construct containing a collection of related concepts that helps in making assumptions about a person, object, or situation.

Role Schema

Assumptions about how individuals in certain roles will behave.

Event Schema

A set of routine/automatic behaviors also known as a cognitive script.

Lexicon

The words of a given language.

Grammar

The set of rules used to convey meaning through the use of lexicon.

Phoneme

A basic sound unit in a language.

Morpheme

The smallest units of language that convey meaning.

Language Acquisition Device

A hypothetical tool in the brain that especially facilitates language learning according to Noam Chomsky.

Critical Period

The optimal timeframe for acquiring language proficiency.

Trial and Error

A problem-solving strategy involving attempts until a solution is found.

Algorithm

A step-by-step problem-solving formula.

Heuristic

A general problem-solving framework that involves shortcuts or rules of thumb.

Functional Fixedness

An inability to perceive an object being used for something other than what it was designed for.

Anchoring Bias

The tendency to focus on one piece of information when making a decision.

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to focus on information that confirms one’s existing beliefs.

Hindsight Bias

The belief that an event was predictable after it has already happened.

Representative Bias

The tendency to unintentionally stereotype someone or something.

Availability Heuristic

Making decisions based on examples or information that readily comes to mind.

Fluid Intelligence

The ability to see complex relationships and solve problems.

Crystalized Intelligence

Acquired knowledge and the ability to retrieve it.

Triarchic Theory of Intelligence

Robert Sternberg's theory identifying practical, creative, and analytical types of intelligence.

Multiple Intelligences Theory

Howard Gardner's theory proposing that individuals possess at least eight different types of intelligences.

Creativity

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

Divergent Thinking

Thinking 'outside the box' to come up with multiple possibilities in a situation.

Convergent Thinking

The ability to provide a correct or well-established answer or solution to a problem.