Psych Flashcards
Concept
A mental grouping of similar objects, events, ideas, or people
Prototype
A mental image or best example of a category
Schema
A concept or framework that organizes and interprets information. Includes assimilation and accommodation
Assimilation
Interpreting our new experiences in terms of our existing schemas
Accommodation
Adapting our current schemas (understandings) to incorporate new information
Creativity
The ability to produce new and valuable ideas
Convergent thinking
Narrows the available problem solutions to determine he single best solution
Divergent thinking
Expanding the number of possible problem solutions; creative thinking that diverges in different directions
Algorithm
Longer, step-by-step procedure, usually guarantees correct solution
Heuristic
Short cut, simple thinking strategy - make judgments and solve problems efficiently. More error-prone
Insight
A sudden and often novel realization of the solution to the problem. “aha moment.”
Functional fixedness
The inability to see a new use for an object or to see a new perspective
Mental set
Our tendency to approach a problem with the mind-set of what has worked for us previously
Framing
The way an issue is posed; how an issue is framed can significantly affect decisions and judgements
Gambler’s Fallacy
The mistaken belief that a random event is more likely to occur in the future simply because the opposite has occurred repeatedly in the past
Sunk-cost fallacy
The tendency to persist with a course of action despite negative outcomes because of the time, money, and effort already invested
Availability heuristic
Estimating the likelihood of events based on their availability in our memory
Representativeness heuristic
Estimating the likelihood of events in terms of how well they represent, or match, particular prototypes
Executive functioning
the higher cognitive functions that allow a person to plan, set goals, focus attention, and control impulsive behavior. Develop over time
Priming
how exposure to one stimulus may influence a response to a subsequent stimulus, without conscious guidance or intention
fluid intelligence
Our ability to reason speedily and abstractly; tends to decrease with age, especially during late adulthood
crystallized intelligence
Our accumulated knowledge and verbal skills; tends to increase with age
Charles Spearmen
G factor (general intelligence) - scoring high on one factor will score high on other factors
Howard Gardner
Multiple intelligences IQ misses “intelligences” that someone might have. Conventional concept of intelligence too narrow
Mental age
A measure of intelligence test performance devised by Binet; the level of performance typically associated with children of a certain chronological age.
Intelligence quotient (IQ)
defined originally as the ratio of mental age (ma) to chronological age (ca) multiplied by 100. On average score is 100
Standardization
Defining uniform testing procedures and meaningful by comparison with the performance of a pretested group
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)
The WAIS and its companion versions for children are the most widely used intelligence test - can help identify those who could benefit from special education
Normal Curve v. Flynn Effect
IQ is a normal curve. 15 away from the median of 100 is 1 SD. Flynn effect is the rise in intelligence test scores over time and across cultures
Reliability
The extent to which a test yields consistent results, as assessed by the consistency of scores on two halves of the test, on alternative forms of the test, or retesting
Validity
The extent to which a test measures or predicts what it’s supposed to
Constructive validity
How much a test measures a concept or trait
Predictive validity
The success with which a test predicts the behavior it’s designed to predict; computed by correlation between test scores and criterion behavior
Intelligence v. Aptitude Test
Achievement test - a test designed to assess what a person has learned. Aptitude test - a test designed to predict a person’s future performance (capacity to learn)
Factor analysis
A statistical procedure that identifies clusters of related items (called factors) on a test; used to identify different dimensions that underlie a person’s total score
Discrimination Terman
With Terman’s help, US gov developed new tests to evaluate WWI recruits and arriving immigrants. Concluded Anglo-Saxon heritage was superior. This led to laws severely restricting immigration, employment, and educational opportunities for those not of that race.
Growth mindset
A focus on learning and growing rather than viewing abilities as fixed
Fixed mindset
The view that intelligence, abilities, and talents are unchangeable, even with effort
Stereotype threat
A self-confirming concern that on will be evaluated based on a neg stereotype
Content validity
The extent to which a test samples the behavior that is of interest
Predictive validity
The success with which a test predicts the behavior it’s designed to predict
Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory
practical, creative, and analytical intelligence
