Ch13 - Problem Solving & Creativity Flashcards
problem space
all the states that can be reached in the process of solving a problem (available options)
hill climbing strategy
a heuristic where you always pick the option you believe will get you closer to your goal (the trail that goes up the hill)
the problem with this, is at times the correct “trail” will appear to lead you further from your goal at first
means-end analysis
comparing the current state to the goal and asking what means are available to make both states more alike
problem solving via analogy
solving a current problem through analyzing the solution to another, analogous problem
can be difficult to find an analogous problem and map it onto the current one
problem solving
mapping
the process of figuring out how aspects of one situation correspond to aspects of another
eg: understanding that the goal in soccer is analogous to the hoop in basketball
expert problem solver traits
- breaking problems into smaller problems
- domain knowledge
- pre-assembled routines
- effective at organizing knowledge
- great at using analogies
functional fixedness
the tendency to be rigid in our definition of what an object can do/its purpose
eg: box of thumbtacks and candle
Moment of illumination
who coined this + stages
Wallas
- preparation: some work on problem
- incubation: subconscious work
- illumination: key insight or idea emerges
- verification: illumination is attempted
why do we think the incubation stage helps creativity?
it allows mind wandering which is thought to be a process of preading activation through the brain, allows for more neural connections with new ideas being activated
convergent thinking
ability to connect and find similarities between distinct ideas
divergent thinking
ability to move thoughts into novel and unanticipated directions
forward flow
emerges from divergent thinking; the extent to which our ideas move away from the past, allowing for new thoughts
