Lecture 11: Reasoning, Decision Making, & Intelligence

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to reasoning, decision making, and intelligence from the lecture on cognitive psychology.

Deductive Inference

Deriving conclusions from premises using rules of logic.

Valid Argument

An argument where the conclusion must be true if the premises are true.

Sound Argument

A valid argument with true premises.

Conditional

A statement expressing a relationship between an antecedent and a consequent.

Antecedent

The 'if' part of a conditional statement.

Consequent

The 'then' part of a conditional statement.

Modus Ponens

A valid inference where if P→Q and P is true, then Q is true.

Modus Tollens

A valid inference where if P→Q and Q is false, then P is false.

Affirming the Consequent

Invalid inference where P→Q and Q is true, so P is assumed true.

Denying the Antecedent

Invalid inference where P→Q and P is false, so Q is assumed false.

Formal Logic

Reasoning based purely on structure, independent of content.

Human Reasoning

Often influenced by content, beliefs, and context rather than strict logic.

Belief Bias

The tendency to judge arguments as valid based on believability rather than logic.

Evans (2002)

Showed that believable conclusions are more likely to be judged as valid.

Wason Selection Task

A task used to test reasoning with conditionals.

Abstract Version

People perform poorly when content is abstract.

Concrete Version

Performance improves when context is meaningful (e.g., drinking age rule).

Mental Model Theory

The idea that people reason by constructing mental representations of possible situations.

Limitation of Mental Models

People often represent only what is true and ignore alternatives.

Inductive Inference

Drawing general conclusions from specific observations.

Credence

A probability representing degree of belief in a proposition.

Statistical Syllogism

Inferring properties of individuals based on group characteristics.

Analogy (Inductive)

Inferring similarity based on shared features.

Bayesian Inference

A probabilistic method of updating beliefs based on evidence.

Prior

The initial belief before new evidence.

Likelihood

The probability of evidence given a hypothesis.

Posterior

The updated belief after considering evidence.

Expected Utility Theory

A model where decisions maximize expected outcomes weighted by probability.

Utility

The value or desirability of an outcome.

Availability Heuristic

Judging probability based on ease of recall.

Affect Heuristic

Judging probability based on emotional intensity.

Representativeness Heuristic

Judging probability based on similarity to a prototype.

Linda Problem

A classic example showing errors in probabilistic reasoning.

Conjunction Fallacy

Error where people think P(A and B) is more likely than P(B).

Loss Aversion

The tendency to weigh losses more heavily than equivalent gains.

Framing Effect

Decisions are influenced by how options are presented (positive vs negative framing).

Risk Aversion (Gains Frame)

Preference for certain outcomes when framed as gains.

Risk Seeking (Loss Frame)

Preference for risky options when framed as losses.

Normative Models

Describe how people should reason (e.g., logic, probability).

Descriptive Models

Describe how people actually reason in practice.

Rationality Debate

Question of whether human reasoning follows normative standards.