Thinking and Language Cognitive Psychology

Thinking Cognition – mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating.

Organizing Information Concept – mental grouping of similar objects, events, ideas, or people. Prototype – a “typical” member of a category, one that has most of the defining features of that category Semantic Network – arrangement of concepts that represents relations between different pieces of information and different concepts.

Semantic Networks

4 Steps to Problem Solving Understand the problem Devise a plan Carry out the plan Look back

Problem Solving Trial and Error Algorithm Heuristic A problem-solving strategy in which several solutions are attempted until one is found that works. Algorithm A problem-solving procedure that is guaranteed to give a solution Used often in mathematics and computer programming Heuristic A mental shortcut that allows one to make judgments that are quick but often produces errors

The Problem with Heuristics

Errors in Problem Solving Fixation Mental Set Confirmation Bias Belief Perseverance

Duncker’s Candle Problem Functional Fixedness Fixation: inability to see a problem from a new perspective Functional Fixedness: Tendency to think of objects only in terms of their usual functions Duncker’s Candle Problem Using only the objects in the picture, how could you mount the candle to the wall?

Solution

Fixation Connect all 9 dots Use only 4 lines Do not lift your pencil from the page after you begin drawing

Solution

Mental Set Tendency to return to a problem-solving strategy that worked in the past May be effective at times but can create false assumptions Examples Q: There are six eggs in a basket. Six people take one of the eggs each. How is it that one egg can still be left in the basket? Q: What occurs once in June, once in July, and twice in August.

Confirmation Bias Tendency to search only for evidence that supports one’s own beliefs

Belief Perseverance Tendency to cling to beliefs even after they have been discredited. Examples of belief perseverance: Believing you are a good driver after several traffic tickets Rumors

Four Stages in Decision Making

Making Decisions Obstacles Representativeness heuristic: judging the likelihood of things in terms of how typical it seems (how well it matches the prototype) Availability heuristic: estimating the likelihood of events based on their availability in memory Framing: biasing effects on decision making due to the way in which a choice is worded When making decisions it is important to think critically to avoid biases on judgement.