Chapter 8 Thinking and Intelligence

Question 1

Analogical representations

Answer 1

Mental representations that have some of the physical characteristics of objects; they are analogous to the objects. (See page 319)

Question 2

Availability heuristic

Answer 2

Making a decision based on the answer that most easily comes to mind. (See page 334)

Question 3

Cognition

Answer 3

Mental activity that includes thinking and the understandings that result from thinking. (See page 319)

Question 4

Concept

Answer 4

A mental representation that groups or categorizes objects, events, or relations around common themes. (See page 321)

Question 5

Crystallized intelligence

Answer 5

Intelligence that reflects both the knowledge one acquires through experience and the ability to use that knowledge. (See page 349)

Question 6

Decision making

Answer 6

Attempting to select the best alternative among several options. (See page 329)

Question 7

Deductive reasoning

Answer 7

Using general rules to draw conclusions about specific instances. (See page 329)

Question 8

Defining attribute model

Answer 8

A way of thinking about concepts: A category is characterized by a list of features that determine if an object is a member of the category. (See page 321)

Question 9

Emotional intelligence (EI)

Answer 9

A form of social intelligence that emphasizes the abilities to manage, recognize, and understand emotions and use emotions to guide appropriate thought and action. (See page 351)

Question 10

Exemplar model

Answer 10

A way of thinking about concepts: All members of a category are examples (exemplars); together they form the concept and determine category membership. (See page 323)

Question 11

Fluid intelligence

Answer 11

Intelligence that reflects the ability to process information, particularly in novel or complex circumstances. (See page 349)

Question 12

Framing

Answer 12

The effect of presentation on how information is perceived. (See page 333)

Question 13

General intelligence (g)

Answer 13

The idea that one general factor underlies intelligence. (See page 348)

Question 14

Heuristics

Answer 14

Shortcuts (rules of thumb or informal guidelines) used to reduce the amount of thinking that is needed to make decisions. (See page 332)

Question 15

Inductive reasoning

Answer 15

Using specific instances to draw conclusions about general rules. (See page 329)

Question 16

Insight

Answer 16

The sudden realization of a solution to a problem. (See page 339)

Question 17

Intelligence

Answer 17

The ability to use knowledge to reason, make decisions, make sense of events, solve problems, understand complex ideas, learn quickly, and adapt to environmental challenges. (See page 344)

Question 18

Intelligence quotient (IQ)

Answer 18

An index of intelligence computed by dividing a child’s estimated mental age by the child’s chronological age, then multiplying this number by 100. (See page 345)

Question 19

Mental age

Answer 19

An assessment of a child’s intellectual standing compared with that of same-age peers; determined by comparing the child’s test score with the average score for children of each chronological age. (See page 345)

Question 20

Mental sets

Answer 20

Problem solving strategies that have worked in the past. (See page 341)

Question 21

Multiple intelligences

Answer 21

The idea that there are different types of intelligence that are independent of one another. (See page 349)

Question 22

Problem solving

Answer 22

Finding a way around an obstacle to reach a goal. (See page 329)

Question 23

Prototype model

Answer 23

A way of thinking about concepts: Within each category, there is a best example – a prototype – for that category. (See page 322)

Question 24

Reasoning

Answer 24

Using information to determine if a conclusion is valid or reasonable. (See page 329)

Question 25

Representativeness heuristic

Answer 25

Placing a person or object in a category if that person or object is similar to one’s prototype for that category. (See page 334)

Question 26

Restructuring

Answer 26

A new way of thinking about a problem that aids its solution. (See page 340)

Question 27

Stereotypes

Answer 27

Cognitive schemas that allow for easy, fast processing of information about people based on their membership in certain groups. (See page 324)

Question 28

Stereotype threat

Answer 28

Apprehension about confirming negative stereotypes related to one’s own group. (See page 359)

Question 29

Symbolic representations

Answer 29

Abstract mental representations that do not correspond to the physical features of objects or ideas. (See page 320)

Question 30

Thinking

Answer 30

The mental manipulation of representations of information (i.e., of objects we encounter in our environments). (See page 319)