1. Problem Solving 1. The “problem” -well versus ill defined 2. Measurement -RT, error patterns, verbal protocols 3. History of problem solving

2. First work on animals: Thorndike’s puzzle boxes

3. One cat’s data (all of the others are similar):

4. Work by Wolfgang Kohler on chimps, apes, found evidence of problem solving ability: e.g.1: tool building e.g.2: formal problem solving (Kohler video) First work on animals: Thorndike’s puzzle boxes Later on: animal intelligence tests by the Gestalt Psychologists

5. Epstein, R., Kirshnit CE, Lanza RP, Rubin LC. (1984). “Insight in the pigeon”, Nature, v. 308, pp. 61-62 Most recently, pigeons shown to have same ability

6. Also, chimp spatial location memory is pretty good:

7. Problem Solving 1. The “problem” 2. Measurement -in humans, most of the work was done by a guy named Dunker in the 40s 3. History of problem solving -Thorndike, Kohler -focus was more on reasons people failed at problem solving

8. Problem Solving 1. The “problem” 2. Measurement 4. Blocks to problem solving a. Mental set -nine dot, six toothpicks 3. History of problem solving

9. Two flagpoles are standing, each 196 feet tall.

10. 196 feet Two flagpoles are standing, each 196 feet tall.

11. 196 feet 346 feet Two flagpoles are standing, each 196 feet tall. A 346-foot rope is strung from the top of one to the top of the other, and hangs freely between them.

12. 196 feet 346 feet 23 feet Two flagpoles are standing, each 196 feet tall. A 346-foot rope is strung from the top of one to the top of the other, and hangs freely between them. The lowest point of the rope is 23 feet above the ground.

13. 196 feet 346 feet 23 feet Two flagpoles are standing, each 196 feet tall. A 346-foot rope is strung from the top of one to the top of the other, and hangs freely between them. The lowest point of the rope is 23 feet above the ground. How far apart are the two flagpoles?

14. Thinking, reasoning, and intelligence 1. The “problem” -well versus ill defined 2. Measurement -RT, error patterns, verbal protocols 3. Blocks to problem solving a. Mental set b. Functional Fixedness c. Using Hill-climbing

16. Thinking, reasoning, and intelligence 1. The “problem” -well versus ill defined 2. Measurement -RT, error patterns, verbal protocols 3. Blocks to problem solving a. Mental set b. Functional Fixedness c. Using Hill-climbing Is there a way to get around these blocks? Yes, depending on the nature of the block.

17. Thinking, reasoning, and intelligence Strategies to break the blocks: 1. Working backwards Water lilies double in number every 24 hours On January 1, the lake has 1 water lily on it On January 30, the lake is completely covered with them If a water lily covers 4 square inches of lake, and the lake is 33893 square miles in area, on what date was the lake ¼ covered? Jan.28

18. Thinking, reasoning, and intelligence Strategies to break the blocks: 1. Working backwards 2. Working via analogy You are a doctor faced with a patient who has a malignant tumor in his stomach. The patient is too old to operate on, but unless the tumor is destroyed, the patient will die. There is a type of laser that can be used to destroy the tumor, but at the intensity necessary to destroy it, the laser would kill all the healthy tissue on its way to the tumor. At lower intensities, the laser can pass through the healthy tissue without harming it, but won’t be strong enough to destroy the tumor either. How can you destroy the tumor without destroying any healthy tissue?

19. Thinking, reasoning, and intelligence Strategies to break the blocks: 1. Working backwards 2. Working via analogy A king wished to invade a neighbouring castle. He massed his army and marched to the enemy kingdom. Upon arriving, however, he saw that the castle was surrounded by a wide deep moat, which had numerous flimsy bridges for peddlers and citizens to walk on, but which were not strong enough to support a full army. The king, in his wisdom, split up the army and sent each smaller force to a different bridge, where they all crossed, and met at the castle to lay siege.

20. Thinking, reasoning, and intelligence Strategies to break the blocks: 1. Working backwards 2. Working via analogy 3. Incubation Study method uses rebuses: YOU JUST ME CHETONGUEEK