Lesson 4

Question 1

Prototypes

Answer 1

An exemplar/mental image of the best example of a category. We use this to quickly match stimulus.

Question 2

Algorithms

Answer 2

A problem solving strategy that involves a slow, step-by-step procedure that guarantees a solution.

Question 3

Heuristics

Answer 3

• Mental shortcut
• Heuristics are a much faster problem solving strategy, but can result in an incorrect solution.

Question 4

Representativeness heuristic

Answer 4

A cognitive shortcut that individuals use to judge the likelihood of an event based on how similar it is to a prototype in their minds.

Question 5

Availability heuristic

Answer 5

Based on the assumption that whatever is available in LTM is remembered because it has occurred frequently in the past and so is more likely to occur in the future.

Question 6

Mental set

Answer 6

• A type of fixation
• It is the tendency to approach a problem in only a certain way that has been successful in the past.

Question 7

Priming

Answer 7

• A phenomenon in which exposure to a stimulus, such as a word or image, influences how one responds to a subsequent, related stimulus.
• It is the act of preconditioning the mind for a particular theme or idea through prior exposure.

Question 8

Framing

Answer 8

• The cognitive bias where an individuals choice from a set of options is influenced more by how the info is worded or framed, rather than the info itself.
• We make quick decisions on whether the info seems positive or negative to us

Question 9

Sunk-cost fallacy

Answer 9

Our tendency to continue with an endeavor we’ve invested money, effort, or time into - even if the current costs outweigh the benefits

Question 9

Gambler’s fallacy

Answer 9

Example: Expecting that a run of blacks on a roulette table makes landing a red more likely due to the (incorrect) perception that there is a balance.

Question 10

Executive functions

Answer 10

A cognitive process that allow individuals to generate, organize, plan and carry out goal directed behaviors and experience critical thinking.

Question 11

Creativity

Answer 11

The ability to think about a problem or idea in a new and unusual ways; to come up with new unconventional solutions.

Question 12

Divergent thinking

Answer 12

Produce many answers to the same question; a feature of creative thinking.
Ex: Brainstorm - Generating lots of ideas, then reviewing them before a choice is made.

Question 13

Convergent thinking

Answer 13

Use the problem solving strategies directed toward one correct solution to a problem.

Question 14

Functional fixedness

Answer 14

A failure to use an object in an unusual way

Question 15

Metacognition

Answer 15

Thinking about how you think/being aware of one’s process