Modules 34 + 35 AP Psych

cognition

all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating.

concept

 a mental grouping of similar objects, events, ideas, or people.

prototype

 a mental image or best example of a category. Matching new items to a prototype provides a quick and easy method for sorting items into categories (as when comparing feathered creatures to a prototypical bird, such as a robin) 

creative

 the ability to produce novel and valuable ideas.

convergent thinking

narrows the available problem solutions to determine the single best solution.

divergent thinking

expands the number of possible problem solutions (creative thinking that diverges in different directions).

algorithm

\- a methodical, logical rule or procedure that guarantees solving a particular problem.

Contrasts with the usually speedier—but also more error- prone—use of heuristics.

heuristics

a simple thinking strategy that often allows us to make judgments and solve problems efficiently; usually speedier but also more error-prone than algorithms.

insight

a sudden realization of a problem’s solution; contrasts with strategy-based solutions.

confirmation bias

a tendency to search for information that supports our preconceptions and to ignore or distort contradictory evidence.

mental set

a tendency to approach a problem in one particular way, often a way that has been successful in the past.

intuition

an effortless, immediate, automatic feeling or thought, as contrasted with explicit, conscious reasoning.

representative heuristics

 judging the likelihood of things in terms of how well they seem to represent, or match, particular prototypes; may lead us to ignore other relevant information.

availability heuristics

estimating the likelihood of events based on their availability in memory; if instances come readily to mind (perhaps because of their vividness), we presume such events are common.

overconfidence

 the tendency to be more confident than correct—to overestimate the accuracy of our beliefs and judgments.

belief perservernace

 clinging to one’s initial conceptions after the basis on which they were formed has been discredited.

framing

 the way an issue is posed; how an issue is framed can significantly affect decisions and judgments.

group think

the practice of thinking in a group setting; discourages creativity or individual responsibility