Thinking psych

Prototype

A mental image or best example that incorporates all the features we associate with a category, helping categorize new information.

Schema

Mental frameworks or blueprints that help organize and interpret information, influencing our perception and memory.

Algorithm

A methodical, logical rule or procedure that guarantees solving a particular problem, often step-by-step. Pythagorean theorem

Heuristic

A simple thinking strategy or mental shortcut that allows for efficient judgments and problem-solving, though not always correct.

Representative heuristic

Judging the likelihood of things based on how well they seem to represent particular prototypes, potentially ignoring other information.

Availability heuristic

Estimating the likelihood of events based on their availability in memory, often influenced by vividness or media coverage.

Mental set

A tendency to approach a problem in a particular way, that worked in the past which can hinder problem-solving when that approach is no longer suitable.

Priming

seeing, hearing, or thinking about something activates related ideas in your mind, which can then affect your thoughts, behaviors, or perceptions.

Framing

The way an issue is posed, which can significantly affect decisions and judgments based on presentation of gains or losses.

Gambler's fallacy

The mistaken belief that future probabilities are altered by past events, when they are actually independent.

Sunk-cost fallacy

The tendency to continue investing in a decision based on previously invested resources rather than future outcomes.

Divergent thinking

A thought process used to generate creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions and thinking 'outside the box'.

Convergent thinking

A thought process that narrows down multiple options to find a single best solution to a problem.

Functional fixedness

A cognitive bias that limits a person to using an object only in its traditional way, impeding problem-solving.

Metacognition

Awareness and understanding of one's own thought processes, including monitoring and regulating learning and problem-solving strategies.