module 8

Insights and Expertise

• Insight vs. Expertise

  • Insight: Reorienting information to solve problems.

  • Expertise: Automatic process based on experience that utilizes working memory effectively.

  • Both A and B are incorrect in how they describe these processes.

Comparative Understanding

• Students have expressed confusion over quiz performance despite understanding lectures.

• Emphasis on comparing and contrasting concepts to apply them in different scenarios instead of rote memorization.

• Understanding key terms in psychology is crucial as they frequently recur in various topics.

Divergent Thinking

• Definition: Ability to generate multiple solutions to a problem.

• Creative Thinking: Flexibility, open-mindedness, and brainstorming to explore diverse options.

  • Divergent thinking leads to flexible problem-solving and can be visually represented through mind maps.

  • Common in scenarios requiring unique solutions, such as detective work or marketing strategies.

Characteristics of Divergent Thinking

• Fluency of Thought: High frequency of generating creative solutions.

  • Divergent thinkers often come up with many options rather than just one.

• Cognitive Flexibility: Ability to adapt thinking when faced with atypical challenges.

  • Associated with creative intelligence and ability to shift thoughts quickly.

• Daydreaming Connection: Daydreamers may find themselves developing unique solutions due to their creative imagination.

Convergent Thinking

• Definition: Focuses on arriving at one correct answer.

• Divergent thinking differs by allowing multiple possible solutions (creative exploration).

• Real-life Example: Personal anecdote about deciding what to do with an inherited home illustrates divergent vs. convergent thinking.

  • My family displayed divergent thinking by considering various options such as renting or Airbnbing the property while one family member displayed convergent thinking by insisting on selling it.

Stages of Creative Thought

• Preparation Stage: Involves research and information gathering before problem-solving.

• Incubation Stage: Allowing ideas time to develop subconsciously, leading to sudden insights.

  • Not seeing immediate solutions is normal and part of a creative process.

• Testing Stage: Validating the creative solution through experimentation.

Intuition vs. Insight

• Intuition: An unconscious process based on gut feelings, often shaped by personal experiences.

  • Can lead to quick judgments without full understanding.

• Insight: Based on knowledge and understanding, applying learned concepts to new situations.

Factors Affecting Intuitive Thoughts

• Emotions: Personal feelings can distort logical decision-making (e.g., political choices, hiring).

• Uncertainty: Making quick decisions without sufficient information can lead to unreliable conclusions.

• Framing: The way information is presented influences perceptions and decisions (e.g., medical drug choices, custody decisions).

  • Outcomes can change based simply on positive vs. negative phrasing.

Conclusion

Students are encouraged to understand these distinctions as they will be assessed in quizzes; familiarization with these concepts helps in applying them effectively.