Module 34 & 35 Flashcards
Prototypes
a mental image or best example of a category
- Men with tattoos are more likely to be truck drivers than professors in our minds
Convergent thinking
eliminating problem solutions to the best one
Divergent thinking
expands the number of possible problem Solutions
Cognition
all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowledge, remembering, and communicating
Creativity
the ability to produce novel and valuable ideas
Formal concept
rigid rules or features that define a particular concept.
Natural concept
Eleanor Rosch said these form from everyday experience and do not have boundaries that are sharply defined
Mental Image
mental representation of an object or event not physically present.
Sternberg’s 5 Components of Creativity
Expertise, Imaginative thinking skills, a venturesome personality, intrinsic motivation, a creative environment
Expertise
a well-developed base of knowledge (mental building blocks) – gives you more to work with.
Imaginative Thinking Skills
Allows you to see things in new ways, recognize patterns and make connections – explore in a new way.
A Venturesome Personality
a risk taker that looks for new experiences and is willing to overcome obstacles
Intrinsic Motivation
driven by more than external pressures – likes the challenge and satisfaction of difficult work and finding new ways to solve problems.
A Creative Environment
Ability to work with others and an environment that sparks support and creative ideas.
Algorithms
A problem solving strategy that guarantees the solution to the problem. Not always the most efficient method
Heuristics
A rule-of-thumb, simpler problem solving strategy. Makes a solution more likely and efficient but does not guarantee a solution. Prone to errors.
Insight
The sudden realization of the solution to a problem – correct answer suddenly comes to us. An Aha! moment.
Confirmation bias
only search for information confirming one’s belief.
Mental set
A tendency to approach a problem in a particular way that has worked in the past. At times it may make problem solving quicker and more efficient. Not always helpful when a problem calls for a new approach
Functional fixedness
Type of mental set where you have the inability to see an object as having a function other than its usual one
Single feature model
make a decision by focusing on only one feature
Additive model
Systematically evaluate the important features of each alternative (create a list of factors that are important to you)
Elimination by aspects
Rate choices based on features. Evaluate each alternative one characteristic at a time starting with the one you think is most important. Eliminate those that do not meet the desired criteria even if they have other desirable characteristics.
Intuition
Our fast, automatic, unreasoned thoughts and feelings
