Exam #3

Question 1

Cognition

Answer 1

mental processes involved in acquiring, processing, & storing knowledge

Question 2

Mental Representation

Answer 2

Structure in the mind (images)

Question 3

Reasoning

Answer 3

Process of drawing influences or conclusions from principles & evidence

Question 4

Deductive Reasoning

Answer 4

Reasoning from general statements of what is known to specific conclusions

Question 5

Inductive Reasoning

Answer 5

Reasoning from specific evidence to general conclusions

Question 6

Confirmation Bias

Answer 6

Tendency to selectively attend to information that supports one’s general belief while ignoring info that contradicts one’s belief

Question 7

Heuristics

Answer 7

Mental shortcuts for making complex & uncertain decisions & judgements (quick decision making)

Question 8

Availability Heuristics

Answer 8

We make decisions based on the ease of which estimates come to mind or how available they are to out awareness

Question 9

Representative Heuristics

Answer 9

Strategy used to estimate the probability of one event based on how typical it is of another event (stereotypes)

Question 10

Conjunction Fallacy

Answer 10

Logical error when people say that the combination of two events is more likely than either event alone

Question 11

Dual Process Theory

Answer 11

Theory on how people make decisions

Question 12

Social Intuitionist Model

Answer 12

Intuitions come first, strategic reasonings second (rationalizing out intuitions)

Question 13

Rational Choice Theory

Answer 13

Economic theory that suggests that when given a choice between two or more options, humans will choose the one that is most likely to help them achieve their goals (making economic decisions on intuition)

Question 14

Prospect Theory

Answer 14

Are mote sensitive to potential loss than we are to potential gain

Question 15

Sensation

Answer 15

Physical process, the stimulation of out sense organs by feature of the outer world

Question 16

Perceptions

Answer 16

Psychological process, the act of organizing & interpreting sensory experiences

Question 17

Sensory Adaptation

Answer 17

Our sensitivity diminishes when we have constant stimulation

Question 18

Absolute Threshold

Answer 18

The lowest intensity levels of stimuli a person can detect 50% of the time

Question 19

Signal Detection Theory

Answer 19

Viewpoint that both stimulus intensity & decision-making processes are involved in the detection of a stimulus

Question 20

Viewpoint that both stimulus intensity & decision-making processes are involved in the detection of a stimulus

Answer 20

The smallest amount of change between two stimuli that a person can detect 50% of the time (smallest difference noticable)

Question 21

Perceptual Set

Answer 21

The effect of frame of mind aon perception, or a tendency to perceive stimuli in a certain manner

Question 22

Bottom-up Processing

Answer 22

Perception is a process of building a perceptual experience from smaller pieces

Question 23

Top-down Precessing

Answer 23

Perception of the whole guides perception of smaller elemental features

Question 24

Synesthesia

Answer 24

Atypical sensory experiences in which a person experiences sensation in one sense when a different sense is stimulated (cross-activation of different areas of the brain)

Question 25

Memory

Answer 25

Ability to store & use information

Question 26

Sensory Memory

Answer 26

First phase in creating memory; holds information in its original sensory form for a very brief period, usually about half a second to less than 2 to 3 seconds

Question 27

Short Term / Working Memory

Answer 27

Second phase in creating memory; attends to & solves immediate problems (attention span)

Question 28

Long-term Memory

Answer 28

Thirds phase in creating memory

Question 29

Visuospatial Sketchpad

Answer 29

Baddeley’s model of working memory; storage area for visual or spatial information

Question 30

Episodic Buffer

Answer 30

Baddeley’s model of working memory; storage area fro specific events/experiences

Question 31

Phonological Loop

Answer 31

Baddeley’s model of working memory; storage area for sounds/linguistic information

Question 32

Central Executive

Answer 32

Baddeley’s model of working memory; decides where to focus attention & selectively hones in on specific aspects of a stimulus

Question 33

Implicit Memory

Answer 33

Knowing “how” (tying shoes, riding bike)

Question 34

Explicit Memory

Answer 34

Knowing “facts”, declaring words

Question 35

Serial Position Effect

Answer 35

People are better to recall the things at the beginning & end of lists

Question 36

Encoding

Answer 36

First step to creating long-term memory; brain tunes into, takes in, & integrates new info

Question 37

Consolidation

Answer 37

Second step to creating long-term memory; processing, making sense of, & solidifying the experience

Question 38

Storage

Answer 38

Third step to creating long-term memory; connect experiences to formulate rules

Question 39

Retrieval

Answer 39

Fourth step to creating long-term memory; recovery of information

Question 40

Aid in Formation of Memories

Answer 40

paying attention, meaningful info, see often, sleep, sensory & emotional experiences

Question 41

Impede(prevent) Memory Formation

Answer 41

distractions, multitasking, strong emotions, mindlessly believing all past experiences

Question 42

False Memory

Answer 42

Event never occurred but you believe with 100% confidence that it did

Question 43

Interference

Answer 43

Processes of forgetting; useless information is replaced with useful info

Question 44

Absent-Mindedness

Answer 44

Process of forgetting; inattention causes memory to never form

Question 45

Blocking

Answer 45

Process of forgetting; a brain phenomenon that inhibits your from accessing information

Question 46

Repression

Answer 46

Process of forgetting; intentionally forgetting to protect from harmful thoughts, feelings, & past experiences

Question 47

Suggestibility

Answer 47

Process of forgetting; memories are altered based on new experiences