Intro to Psychology (PSYC101): Module 25: Thinking
Cognition encompasses the mental processes involved in thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating. Concepts help organize related ideas or objects, while prototypes serve as mental examples that make categorization faster and more intuitive.
Cognition
all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating.
Key Terms
Cognition
all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating.
Concept
a mental grouping of similar objects, events, ideas, or people.
Prototype
a mental image or best example of a category. Matching new items to a prototype provides a quick and
easy method for sorting items into categori...
Algorithm
a methodical, logical rule or procedure that guarantees solving a particular problem. Contrasts with the
usually speedier—but also more error-pr...
Heuristic
a simple thinking strategy that often allows us to make judgments and solve problems efficiently; usually
speedier but also more error-prone tha...
Insight
a sudden realization of a problem’s solution; contrasts with strategy-based solutions.
Related Flashcard Decks
Study Tips
- Press F to enter focus mode for distraction-free studying
- Review cards regularly to improve retention
- Try to recall the answer before flipping the card
- Share this deck with friends to study together
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
Cognition | all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating. |
Concept | a mental grouping of similar objects, events, ideas, or people. |
Prototype | a mental image or best example of a category. Matching new items to a prototype provides a quick and |
Algorithm | a methodical, logical rule or procedure that guarantees solving a particular problem. Contrasts with the |
Heuristic | a simple thinking strategy that often allows us to make judgments and solve problems efficiently; usually |
Insight | a sudden realization of a problem’s solution; contrasts with strategy-based solutions. |
Confirmation Bias | a tendency to search for information that supports our preconceptions and to ignore or distort |
Fixation | in cognition, the inability to see a problem from a new perspective; an obstacle to problem solving. |
Mental Set | a tendency to approach a problem in one particular way, often a way that has been successful in the past. |
Intuition | an effortless, immediate, automatic feeling or thought, as contrasted with explicit, conscious reasoning. |
Representativeness Heuristic | estimating the likelihood of events in terms of how well they seem to represent, or match, particular |
Availability heuristic | estimating the likelihood of events based on their availability in memory; if instances come readily to mind |
Overconfidence | the tendency to be more confident than correct—to overestimate the accuracy of our beliefs and |
Belief Perseverance | clinging to one’s initial conceptions after the basis on which they were formed has been discredited. |
Framing | the way an issue is posed; how an issue is worded can significantly affect decisions and judgments. |
Nudge | a framing of choices by which governments and companies can, without coercion or altered incentives, |
Creativity | the ability to produce new and valuable ideas. |
Convergent Thinking | narrowing the available problem solutions to determine the single best solution. |
Divergent Thinking | expanding the number of possible problem solutions; creative thinking that diverges in different |