Cognitive Biases and Predictions in Decision-Making

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and their definitions related to cognitive biases, decision-making processes, and memory in psychology.

Cognitive Biases

Systematic patterns of deviation from norm or rationality in judgment.

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information in a way that confirms one's preconceptions.

Anchoring Bias

The reliance on the first piece of information encountered when making decisions.

IKEA Effect

The phenomenon where people place a disproportionately high value on products they partially created.

Predictions

Assumptions or forecasts about future events based on current information or experiences.

Memory Consolidation

The process by which temporary memories are transformed into a more stable and long-lasting form.

Emotional Sensitivity

Increased reactivity to emotional stimuli, often resulting in biased judgments.

Illusions

Mistaken perceptions or interpretations of reality, often resulting from cognitive biases.

Decision-Making

The cognitive process of selecting a course of action from among multiple alternatives.

Cognitive Load

The total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory.

Ground Truth

The actual truth about a system as observed or verified directly.

Explainable AI

AI systems designed to be transparent, making their reasoning understandable to users.

Top-Down Processing

Cognitive processing that begins with thoughts or concepts and flows down to lower levels of processing.

Bottom-Up Processing

Cognitive processing that begins with sensory stimuli and builds up to a perceptual understanding.

Memory Retrieval

The process of accessing and bringing stored information into conscious awareness.

Neuroplasticity

The ability of the brain to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life.

Behavioral Prediction

Forecasting how actions taken in the present will influence future outcomes.

Cognitive Simplification

The process of reducing complex information into simpler terms for easier understanding.

Attention Bias

The tendency to pay attention to some things while ignoring others during perception.

Interference Theory

The idea that forgetting occurs because similar memories interfere with each other.

Stress and Memory

The impact of stress on memory processing and retrieval, often resulting in biases.

Memory Encoding

The initial process of converting sensory input into a form or code that the brain can process and store.

Memory Storage

The process of maintaining and retaining encoded information in the brain over periods of time.

Sensory Memory

The earliest stage of memory that holds a brief, literal copy of sensory information for less than a few seconds.

Short-Term Memory

A memory system with limited capacity, typically holding about 7 \pm 2 items for roughly 20 to 30 seconds.

Long-Term Memory

The relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of the memory system for information, skills, and experiences. Its stability and ease of retrieval are improved by memory associations—links created between new information and existing knowledge.