Chapter 8: Cognition, Language, and Intelligence

general intelligence (g)

Charles Spearman’s theory of a singular general level of intelligence

crystallized intelligence

Raymond Cattell’s theory of our accumulation of knowledge

fluid intelligence

Raymond Cattell’s theory of the speed and efficiency with which we learn new information and solve problems

multiple intelligences

Howard Gardner’s theory of humans possessing nine different intelligences

triarchic theory of intelligence

composed of analytical, practical, and creative abilities.

analytical intelligence

the ability to use logic to reason through problems

creative intelligence

is the ability to adapt to the environment

practical intelligence

the ability to use knowledge of the world in novel situations

emotional intelligence

Daniel Goleman’s theory of emotional expertise

algorithm

following a methodical rule that always leads to a solution

heuristics

simpler thinking strategies that may or may not lead to the correct solution

trial and error

a heuristic that involves trying different solutions until discovering one that works

intuition

simply believing that something is true independent of any reasoning process

insight

approaching the problem from a different angle

functional fixedness

only seeing objects in their familiar roles

creativity

the ability to use mental elements together in new useful ways

incubation

you stop thinking about the problem

divergent thinking

the ability to generate many ideas quickly in response to a single prompt

reasoning

a slow, and deliberative process using certain assumptions to draw conclusions about the world

deductive reasoning

reasoning from the general to the specific

inductive reasoning

reasoning from the specific to the general

dialectical reasoning

assumes both statements of contradiction have the potential to be at least partially true

decision making

choosing from among several alternatives

framed

the same issue is presented in different but reasonably equivalent ways

loss aversion

the tendency to focus on what a certain decision could cost in potential gain

risk aversion

one’s concern over losing what has already been gained

judgment

a type of problem solving in which we estimate the probability of an event

availability heuristic

the ease with which we can recall instances of an event in memory

representativeness heuristic

making quick judgments based on the likelihood of something by comparing it with certain prototypes

base rate

the true probability of an event