Chapter 6 Flashcards
computer metaphor
the idea that the brain is an information processing system like a computer
concepts
mental groupings of similar objects, ideas, or experiences
natural concepts
mental representations of objects and events drawn from our own experiences
prototype
an ideal or most representative example of a conceptual category
artificial concepts
concepts defined by rules, such as word definitions and mathematical formulas
concept hierarchies
levels of concepts, from the most general to the most specific, in which a more general level includes more specific concepts…the concept of animal includes dog, giraffe, and butterfly
intuition
the ability to make judgments without consciously reasoning
script
a cluster of knowledge about sequences of events and actions expected to occur in a particular setting
algorithms
problem-solving procedures and formulas that guarantee a correct outcome, if properly applied
heuristics
cognitive strategies or “rules of thumb” used as shortcuts to solve problems, these are not guaranteed
mental set
the tendency to respond to a new problem in a manner used for a previous problem
functional fixedness
the inability to perceive a new use for an object associated with a different purpose
hindsight bias
the tendency, after learning about an event, to “second guess” or believe that one could have predicted the event in advance
anchoring bias
a faulty heuristic caused by basing an estimate on a completely irrelevant quality
representativeness bias
a faulty heuristic strategy based on the assumption that, once people or events are categorized, that they all share the same features as other members of that category
base rate information
the probability of a characteristic appearing in the general population
availability bias
a faulty heuristic strategy that eliminates probabilities based on the availability of vivid mental images of an event
tyranny of choice
the impairment of effective decision making when confronted with an overwhelming number of choices
creativity
a mental process that produces novel responses that contribute to the solution of problems
experts
individuals that possess well organized funds of knowledge, including effective problem solving strategies in a field
aptitudes
innate potentialities
intelligence
the mental capacity to acquire knowledge, reason, and to solve problems effectively
mental age (MA)
the average age in which the average person reaches that score
chronological age (CA)
age since birth
intelligence quotient
a numerical score on an intelligence test, originally computed by dividing mental age from chronological age and then multiplying by 100
normal distribution (normal curve)
a bell-shaped curve describing the spread of characteristics through a population
normal range
scores falling around the middle of normal distribution (between 90-110), about 50% of the population
mental retardation
described as about 30 IQ points below average (70 or lower), now social functioning and abilities are also factored in (about 2% of the population)
giftedness
described as about 30 IQ points above average (130 or above), also about 2% of the population
savant syndrome
having a remarkable talent in one area while being mentally slow in other areas
g factor
a general ability, proposed by Spearman, as the main factor underlying all intelligent mental activity
crystallized intelligence
the knowledge a person has acquired and the ability to access that knowledge
fluid intelligence
the ability to see complex relationships and solve problems
practical intelligence
Sternberg’s idea about the ability to cope with the environment, “street smarts”
analytical intelligence
Sternberg’s idea dealing with the ability to analyze problems and come up with the right answers, measured by most IQ tests
creative intelligence
Sternberg’s idea, about seeing new relationships among concepts, involves insight and creativity
triarchic theory
the term for Sternberg’s theory of intelligence, because it contains 3 forms, practical, analytical, and creative
wisdom
Sternberg’s idea of using intelligence for the common good instead of for selfish pursuits
multiple intelligence
referring to Gardner’s theory on the idea of 8 or more forms of intelligence
theory of mind
an awareness that other people’s behavior may be influenced by beliefs, desires, and emotions that differ from one’s own
self-fulfilling prophecy
observations or behaviors that result primarily from expectation
heritability
the amount of trait variation within a group raised under the same conditions that could be attributed to genetic differences. Heritability tells us nothing of between-group differences
stereotype threat
an expectation of being judged by the standard of a negative stereotype. Such expectations can adversely affect performance
