Psychology lecture thinking and decision making Interactive lecture 7 Dr Jolanta Babiak Winter semester 2017/2018

thinking and problem solving Cognitive Psychology Human intelligence Language thinking and problem solving memory attention perception

Thinking, reasoning and problem solving Thinking is a mental process embracing understanding, processing and communicating information Thinking involves mental attending to information, creating its mental representation, reasoning, and making judgements and decisions Thinking is a conscious process directed at making sense out of things, events, occurrences

Basic components of thoughts: concepts and prototypes Concepts are mental categories that have the same characteristics and are used to group objects in particular classes of tasks, relations, qualities A category is formed when two or more objects are treated equivalently Concepts are organized in hierarchy: e.g. clocks – hand watches, pocket watches, wall clocks, etc.; watches, barometers, thermometers – general concept of measuring tools Objects, which best represent key characteristics of a certain category are called prototypes.

Different approaches to problem solving ABABABAB ABDEBCEF JDTCPSSO Have we had AHA moment or were we trying to figure out the pattern of these letter series? Understanding a problem: focusing on the right information Understanding a problem: creating its logical mental representation comprising of symbols, concepts e.g. words, math symbols, graphic representations

Different approaches to problem solving Effective understanding of a problem Separate parts of our mental representation of a problem are linked logically Separate parts of our mental representation of a problem shall relate to elements that exist in real world. Our minds stores general knowledge, which may be utilized to solve particular problem Algorithms Specific way of problem solving If applied suitably they allows for correct solution (math rules) Heuristics Mental shortcuts that allow to quickly find a solution This method does not guarantee a solution Methods and goals analysis: appraising the difference between current situation and desirable situation; when differences get identified we can think of eliminating them Long term goals: dividing them into short-term objectives

Different approaches to problem solving Analogies It is a partial similarity between objects that differ in other parts Heuristics of analogy indicates applying known, successfully utilized solutions to a new problem

Factors influencing problem solving Level of competences Mental attitudes Insight (Aha! Moment) The way a problem is defined Functional stability of problem elements

Competences DNSUO, RCWDO, IASYD If we are competent in a certain area we will solve relevant problems quicker Expert skills does not translates into higher intelligence Profound knowledge of the subject area Can remember better separate elements of a problem Quickly form mental representations of a problem and ultimately solution Utilize known methods to solve problems Anagrams in native language: parallel thinking; foreign language: serial processing

Mental attitude Mental representation shall correspond to a structure of a problem If we successfully solve similar problems we tend to use same approach to the new one Mental attitude is often times helpful but can lead us astray when new problem seems to be identical

INSIGHT Information “hidden” in the problem gets reorganized in our mind and emerges by itself It comes up unexpectedly, when isolated elements of a problem get organized Wolfgang Kohler experiment

Incubation When we are faced with a problem sometimes we’re just circling around it After careful studying the problem, we might abandon it for a while This might lead us to incubation of an insight We might temporarily stop thinking about the problem however our mind is still working on it Result or solution may pop up as revelation Distancing yourself to a problem may enhance abandoning stable mental attitudes which inhibit getting into a solution

Functional stability Solving problems may be inhibited by functional stability What function do pliers have? Do we grab things with them, do we use it as a paperweight or is it a weapon Functional stability is linked with our tendency to perceive objects based on their names and functions Experiment with a pin, candle, matches, table and a wall

Creativity – ability to create novelty and usefulness Creative people have certain things in common Take and use the opportunity They do not perceive limitations as definite, and try to accomplish what is not achievable Appreciate art and music Utilize common resources to develop unusual things Do not follow social norms They hold unpopular views and opinions They try new things

Creativity There is nothing new under the sun but there are new combinations of old elements Creativity as an ability to make distant associations between elements of a problem Predictable solution is not a creative solution even if its difficult to come up with Creativity requires divergent thinking – loosely organized associations may lead to solution Divergent thinking - ideas are limited to current facts and one solution is being sought Effective problem solving may require both types of processing: divergent in the first phase and than convergent to select the most feasible solution

Deductive and Inductive Reasoning Reasoning is a mental process that leads to drawing conclusions Deductive reasoning: conclusions are always truth if evidence (assumptions) are also true All people use language Mary is a person Mary uses language Inductive reasoning: we draw general conclusions based on information about specific facts or isolated cases Inductive reasoning does not allow for absolute conclusions

Judgement and decision making Decisions are being made constantly We tend to think that people rationally make decisions or make judgements after analyzing pros and cons In reality people take shortcuts when making judgements because their knowledge and information warehouse is limited People use heuristics when formulating judgements and solving problems

Heuristics Availability heuristic Basing judgement that is readily available in memory The availability of mood-congruent memories predicts judgements about the future E.g. information readily available in the news or in our memory make us adhere to that information when making judgements Representativeness heuristics If something has the characteristics considered typical of members of the category it is a member if this category; e.g. playing dice Anchoring heuristic – information processed as first e.g. first judgement has people show strong tendency to be influenced by an anchor even if it has no use 8x7x6x5x4x3xx2x1 = 1x2x3x4x5x6x7x8 =