1. Problem-Solving and Creativity
AP Psychology

2. Building Blocks of Thought
Mental Images
Concepts
Schemas
Scripts

3. Mental Images
Def – a mental picture of a previously stored sensory experience
Can be visual – not strictly though
Visual – what a rainbow looks like
Sound – roaring race car
Smell – barbequed chicken
Feel – warm breeze

4. Concepts
Def –group objects, events, or situations that share similar features and characteristics
Artificial (formal) concepts - Defined by a specific set of rules or features
Example - Geometric Shapes (triangles, squares, rectangles)
Natural concepts – formed by everyday experiences
Examples – vehicles, birds, fruit

5. Prototype Def – most typical instance of concept
Examples (Concept (prototype))
Vehicle (car)
Bird (robin)
Fruit (apple)

6. Schema
Def – organized mental framework about a topic, event, object, idea, setting or group of people
Built from experiences!
Important role in how we learn to categorize different groups of people
Example – we learn different schemas for racial groups (can include stereotypes and prejudices)
Example
To a student – “high school”
Schema – classrooms, cafeterias, science labs, band rooms, athletic fields

7. Schema

8. Script
Def – type of schema that involves a typical sequence of behavior expected at an everyday event
Examples
We have scripts for…
Riding a school bus, attending a class, going to a Christmas party, taking a date to the movie

9. Problem-Solving Strategies
Algorithms
Def – a logical step-by-step procedure that, if followed correctly, will eventually solve a specific problem
Example – Mathematical Formulas
Area of triangle – (½ base x height)

11. Problem-Solving Strategies
Heuristics
Def – a general rule of thumb or shortcut that is used to reduce the number of possible solutions
Examples – College search
You could visit all possible choices (algorithm)
You could use a heuristic - search small liberal arts colleges located within 300 miles

12. Heuristics
I only read books that have won awards

13. Obstacles to Solving Problems
Mental Sets
Functional Fixedness
Confirmation Bias
The Availability Heuristic
The Representative Heuristic

14. Mental Sets
Def – tendency to continue to use a belief system and problem-solving strategies that worked in the past
Example – President Hoover’s response to GD
Hoover’s beliefs (mental sets) emphasized individualism, importance of private charities and laissez-faire attitude toward government
Because of this mental set, he failed to adopt new economic models that stressed massive spending programs to revive the economy (like FDR)

15. Mental Sets

16. Functional Fixedness
Def – tendency to think of an object as functioning only in its usual or customary way
As a result, individuals often do not see unusual or innovative uses for familiar objects
Example
A rainstorm approaches as you are on a hike.
You get soaked because you did not think of cutting holes into trash bags to use as an improvised raincoat

19. Confirmation Bias
Def – preference for information that confirms preexisting positions or beliefs, while ignoring or discounting contradictory evidence
Example – Christopher Columbus
Searching for a new water route to the Indies, Columbus bumped into the Caribbean
He was so certain that he had reached the Indies that he called the native people Indians

20. Confirmation Bias

22. The Availability Heuristic
Def – Judging the likelihood of an event based on readily available personal experiences or news reports
Example – Mega Millions
MM creates vivid memories by running TV commercials of ecstatic winners. By ignoring the millions of losers, the advertisements help create an unrealistic availability heuristic

23. Availability Heuristic

24. The Representative Heuristic
Def – Judging the likelihood of an even based on how well it matches a typical example
Example
Kara is attractive, fun-loving, enjoys tanning and attending rock concerts
When people were asked whether she was a teacher or a model – most say model
Even though there are far more females teachers than models
People picked model, because she meets that prototype

25. Representative Heuristics

26. Creativity
Def – a mental process that produces novel solutions to problems

27. Divergent Thinking
Def – type of thinking in which problem solvers devise a number of possible alternative approaches (a major element of creativity)
Example – Great Depression
Hoover failed to improve because he was locked into mental sets
FDR embraced divergent thinking when he proposed a New Deal

29. Divergent Thinking

30. Characteristics of Creative Thinking
Creative people…
Are independent thinkers who resist social pressures to conform
Display a willingness to grow, change and take risks
Are internally motivated and display an ability to focus their full attention on a problem
Are drawn to complex, challenging problems