PSYC 1000 Chapter : PSYC*1000 Psychology in Modules - Module 27 Summary Notes
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Cognition: all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering and communicating. Concepts: mental grouping of similar objects, events, ideas or people. Eg. the concept of a chair can represent many different kinds of chairs, all for sitting. Concepts give us information with little cognitive effort. Form concepts by developing prototypes; mental images or best examples of a category. Once we place an object in a category, our memory of it later shifts towards the category prototype. Some problems we solve through trial and error. Algorithms: methodical, logical rules or procedures that guarantee solving a particular problem (contrasts with the usually faster but also more error prone use of heuristics) Heuristics: simple thinking strategy that often allows us to make judgements and solve problems efficiently. Insight: sudden realization of a problem"s solution; contrasts with strategy based solutions. Strikes suddenly, no type of warning, and usually brings satisfaction.