PSYC 1000 Chapter Notes -Availability Heuristic, Frontal Lobe, Temporal Lobe
11 Dec 2013
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Document Summary
Cognition: all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating. One of these activities is forming concepts (a mental grouping of similar objects, events, ideas, or people) Often form concepts by developing prototypes (a mental image or best example of a category) Matching new items to a prototype provides a quick and easy method for sorting items into categories (as when comparing feathered creatures to a prototypical bird, such as a robin). Some problems are solved through trial and error. Other problems we use algorithms (a methodological, logical rule, or procedure that guarantees solving a particular problem. Contrasts with the usually speedier- but also more error prone- use of heuristics. Heuristics: a simple thinking strategy that often allows us to make judgements and solve problems efficiently; usually speedier than algorithms. Sometimes we puzzle over problems and then pieces fall together in a flash of insight (a sudden realization of a problems solution; contrasts with strategy-based solutions)
