Cognition AP Psych

Cognition

The mental activities involved in acquiring

Metacognition

Awareness and understanding of one’s own thought processes

Concept

A mental grouping of similar objects

Prototype

The best or most typical mental image representing a concept

Schema

A framework of organized knowledge used to interpret and understand information

Divergent thinking

The ability to generate many different ideas or solutions creatively

Convergent thinking

The process of narrowing options to determine a single best solution

Algorithm

A step-by-step methodical procedure that guarantees a solution

Heuristic

A mental shortcut that speeds decision making but increases risk of error

Insight

A sudden realization of a solution without a clear strategy leading up to it

Fixation

An inability to view a problem from a new perspective

Mental set

A tendency to rely on solutions that worked previously

Functional fixedness

The tendency to view objects only in terms of their typical uses

Availability heuristic

Estimating likelihood based on how easily information comes to mind

Representative heuristic

Judging likelihood based on how well something matches a prototype

Bias

An inclination or prejudice influencing judgment

Confirmation bias

The tendency to favor information that supports existing beliefs

Hindsight bias

The belief that one “knew it all along” after an outcome occurs

Overconfidence

Excessive belief in one’s knowledge or judgments

Framing

The influence of presentation or wording on decisions and opinions

Belief perseverance

The tendency to maintain beliefs despite contradictory evidence

Gambler’s fallacy

The belief that independent events influence each other’s outcomes

Memory

The persistence of learning over time through encoding

Encoding

The process of converting information into a mental form for storage

Storage

The retention of encoded information over time

Retrieval

The process of accessing stored information

Automatic processing

Encoding that occurs without conscious effort

Effortful processing

Encoding that requires conscious attention and effort

Recall

Retrieving information from memory without cues

Recognition

Identifying previously learned information when presented with it

Relearning

Reacquiring previously learned information more quickly the second time

Interference

Disruption of memory caused by competing information

Serial position effect

The tendency to recall items at the beginning and end of a list better

Priming

The activation of associations that influence responses

Chunking

Organizing information into meaningful units to improve memory

Mnemonic

A strategy or tool used to aid memory through association

Echoic memory

Brief auditory sensory memory

Iconic memory

Brief visual sensory memory

Short-term memory

Temporary storage of small amounts of information for a brief period

Working memory

Active processing and manipulation of information for tasks

Magic number seven

The typical capacity of short-term memory

Long-term memory

Relatively permanent and limitless information storage

Explicit memory

Memory that can be consciously recalled

Episodic memory

Memory of personal experiences tied to specific times and places

Flashbulb memory

A vivid and emotionally charged memory of a significant event

Semantic memory

Memory of general knowledge and facts

Implicit memory

Unconscious memory that influences behavior

Procedural memory

Memory of how to perform skills and actions