Chapter 7: Thinking, Intelligence, And Language/ Chapter 8: Human Development Flashcards
Cognition
The way in which information is processed and manipulated in remembering, thinking, and knowing
Artificial intelligence (AI)
A scientific field that focuses on creating machines capable of preforming activities that require intelligence when they are done by people
Thinking
The process of manipulating information mentally by forming concepts, solving problems, making decisions, and reflecting critically and creatively
Concepts
A mental category that is used to group objects, events, and characteristics
Prototype model
A model emphasizing that when people evaluate whether a given item reflects a certain concept, they they compare the item with the most typical item(s) in that category and look for a “family resemblance” with the item’s properties
Problem solving
The mental process of finding an appropriate way to attain a goal when the goal is not readily available
Sub goals
Intermediate goals or problems to solve that put one into a better position for reaching a final goal or solution
Algorithms
Strategies- including formulas, instructions, and testing of all possible solutions- that guarantee a solution to a problem
Heuristics
Shortcut strategies or guidelines that suggest a solution to a problem but do not guarantee an answer
Fixation
Using a prior strategy and failing to look at the problem from a fresh and new perspective
Functioned fixedness
Failing to solve a problem as a result of fixation on a thing’s usual functions
Reasoning
The mental activity of transforming information to reach conclusion
Inductive reasoning
Reasoning From specific observations to make generalizations
Deductive reasoning
Reasoning from a general case that is known to be true to a specific instance
Decision making
The mental activity of evaluating alternatives and choosing among them
Loss aversion
The tendency to strongly prefer to avoid losses compared to attempting to acquire gains
Confirmation bias
The tendency to search for and use information that supports ones ideas rather than refutes them
Hindsight bias
The tendency to report falsely, after the fact, that one has accurately reported an outcome
Availability heuristic
A prediction about the probability of an event based on the ease of recalling or imagining similar events
Base rate neglect
The tendency to ignore information about general principles in favor of very specific but vivid information
Representativeness heuristic
The tendency to make judgements about group membership based on physical appearence or the match between a person and one’s stereotype of a group rather than on available base rate information
Critical thinking
Thinking reflectively and productively and evaluating evidence
Mindfulness
The state of being alert and mentally present for one’s everyday activities
Creativity
The ability to think about something in novel and unusual ways and to devise unconventional solutions to the problems