Psychology Behavior

Creativity

The making of ideas that are valuable and novel.

Concepts

Mental grouping of different things based on shared characteristics.

Prototypes

A mental image or best example of a concept one already knows.

Convergent Thinking

The ability to give a single correct answer to a problem.

Divergent Thinking

Considering many different options and thinking in novel ways.

Algorithms

Lists of instructions or step-by-step procedures that lead to a solution.

Heuristics

Thinking strategies that give shortcuts to solving complex problems.

Insight

The sudden realization or solution to a problem.

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to search for information that supports one's theory while ignoring evidence that contradicts it.

Fixation

The inability to see a problem from a new perspective.

Mental Set

A tendency to approach problems in a way that has worked in the past.

Intuition

Spontaneous and unreasonable feelings or thoughts influencing decision-making.

Representativeness Heuristic

Judging the likelihood of events based on how closely they fit a certain prototype.

Availability Heuristic

Estimating the likelihood of events based on how readily examples come to mind.

Overconfidence

The tendency to overestimate one's abilities when completing a task.

Framing

The way an issue is presented, influencing perception and response.

Factor Analysis

A statistical procedure identifying groups of related items.

Existential Intelligence

The ability to ponder deep questions about life, existence, and purpose.

Savant Syndrome

Condition where a person has limited mental ability but excels in a specific area.

Mental Age

A measure of intelligence reflecting the age at which a person functions intellectually.

Intelligence Quotient

A score derived from standardized tests designed to measure intelligence.

Standardization

Defining uniform procedures for testing and scoring.

Reliability

The consistency of results obtained from a test or experiment.

Metacognition

Awareness and understanding of one’s own thought processes.

Accommodation

Adapting current understandings to incorporate new information.

Assimilation

Integrating new information into existing schemas.

Executive Functions

Cognitive processes essential for goal-directed behavior and decision-making.

Priming

Activation of certain associations to influence perception and responses.

Nudge

A subtle change in how choices are presented to influence behavior.

Gambler’s Fallacy

The mistaken belief that past random events influence future random events.

Sunk-Cost Fallacy

Continuing a course of action due to already invested resources despite ineffectiveness.

Functional Fixedness

Limiting the view of available solutions by focusing narrowly on a single object.

Belief Perseverance

The tendency to continue believing in a concept despite contrary evidence.

Intelligence

The ability to learn, solve problems, and adapt knowledge to new situations.

General Intelligence

A measure of all mental abilities across various tasks.

Crystallized Intelligence

The accumulated knowledge and verbal skills over time.

Fluid Intelligence

The ability to reason abstractly and think logically.

Emotional Intelligence

The ability to perceive, understand, manage, and use emotions effectively.

Aptitude Tests

Tests designed to predict a person's future performance capabilities.

Fixed Mindset

Believing that intelligence is static and resistant to change.

Achievement Test

A test designed to measure what a person has learned.

Stanford-Binet

The widely used original intelligence test measuring IQ.

Normal Curve

A symmetrical bell-shaped curve representing the distribution of data.

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale

An intelligence test measuring verbal and nonverbal abilities in adults.

Valid

When a test measures what it promises to measure accurately.

Content Validity

The extent to which a test samples the appropriate behavior of interest.

Predictive Validity

The ability of a test to predict the outcome it is intended to forecast.

Construct Validity

How well a test measures the concept it's intended to measure.

Stereotype Lift

Improved performance by individuals when a situation seems favorable to them due to group identity.

Cohort

A group of people sharing a common characteristic over a specified time period.

Cross-sectional Study

Comparing individuals from different age groups at a single point in time.

Longitudinal Study

Research following and retesting the same group over an extended period.

Growth Mindset

The belief that intelligence can grow and change with learning and experience.

Stereotype Threat

The concern of being judged based on a negative stereotype.

Test Retest Reliability

Assessing the consistency of test results across different testing times.

Multiple Intelligences

The theory that intelligence exists in various styles and abilities.

Cattell-Horn-Carroll Theory (CHC)

A model explaining the structure and comprehension of intelligence.

Psychometrics

The field of study focused on mental testing and evaluation techniques.

Flynn Effect

The observed increase in intelligence test scores over time.

Grit

A personality trait characterized by passion and perseverance towards achieving goals.

Split-Half Reliability

Testing consistency by comparing results from two halves of the same test.