Chapter 8 - Key Terms Flashcards
The mental activity that includes thinking and the understandings that result from thinking
Cognition
The mental manipulation of representations of knowledge about the world
Thinking
Mental representations that have some of the physical characteristics of objects; they are analogous to the objects
Analogical representations
Abstract mental representations that do not
correspond to the physical features of objects or ideas
Symbolic representations
A category, or class, of related items; it consists of mental representations of those items
Concept
Within each category, there is a best example — a prototype — for that category
Prototype model
All members of a category are examples;
together, they form the concept and determine category membership
Exemplar model
Schema that directs behavior over time within a situation
Script
Cognitive schemas that allow for easy, fast processing of information about people based on their membership in certain groups
Stereotypes
Attempting to select the best alternative among several options
Decision making
Finding a way around an obstacle to reach a goal
Problem-solving
Shortcuts (rules of thumb or informal
guidelines) used to reduce the amount of
thinking that is needed to make decisions
Heuristics
The tendency, in making judgments, to rely on the first piece of information encountered or information that comes most quickly to mind
Anchoring
In decision making, the tendency to emphasize the potential losses or potential gains from at least one alternative
Framing
Tendency for people to be more concerned
about losses than gains
Loss Aversion
