1. Cognition

2. Cognition
Thinking, or cognition, refers to a process that involves knowing, understanding, remembering, and communicating.
Metacognition

3. What is thought? Based upon…
Our concept of men may include all of the following guys….
What is thought?
Based upon…
Concepts -- Mental grouping of similar objects, events, ideas, or people…
Form concepts from
Mental Images
Prototype
(typical example)
But they are based on our prototypes. Ideal male...

4. Category Hierarchies We organize concepts into category hierarchies.
Part of our Schemata.
Courtesy of Christine Brune

5. Problem solving strategies include:
Trial and Error
Algorithms
Heuristics
Insight
Preview Question 2: What strategies assist problem solving, and what obstacles hinder it?

6. C B A
Tower of Hanoi Problem

7. S P L O Y O C H Y G Algorithms Exhaust all possibilities
Guarantee the right solution to a problem.
Usually by using a formula. (Computers)
sometimes impractical (very time consuming)
S P L O Y O C H Y G

8. P S Y C H O L O G Y Heuristics
A rule of thumb/ principle that generally can be used to make a judgment or solve a problem.
It is fast, but is…
Prone to errors
Two major types of heuristics….
P S Y C H O L O G Y

9. Representative Heuristic
Who went to Harvard?
This guy did not go to Harvard (but he looks like he did).
Judging the likelihood of things or objects in terms of how well they seem to represent, or match, a particular prototype.
Like thinking everyone from FC is a prep, NA is ghetto, and NH is a hick
or someone with glasses is nerdy,
or a blonde is not smart.
If I tell you that Sonia Dara is a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model, you would make certain quick judgments (heuristics) about her…like about her interests or intelligence.
She is an economics major at Harvard University.

10. Availability Heuristic
Which place would you be more scared of getting mugged or even murdered?
Judging a situation based on examples of similar situations that initially come to mind.
Vivid examples in the news often cause an availability heuristic.
The Bronx, NY
Gary, IN
The crime rate (per capita) of Gary, Indiana is MUCH higher than the Bronx. But when you think of crime, which town comes to mind?

11. Insight
Insight involves a sudden novel realization of a solution to a problem.
Humans and animals have insight.
Brain imaging and EEG studies suggest that when an insight strikes (the “Aha” experience), it activates the right temporal cortex
Grande using boxes to
obtain food

12. CREATIVITY Almost impossible to define.
Some correlation between creativity and intelligence.
Convergent Thinking versus Divergent Thinking
Think of as many uses as you can for a …… Divergent thinking (more than one answer)

13. Obstacles in Solving Problems

14. Mental set a.k.a. rigidity
The tendency to fall into established thought patterns.

15. Fixation An inability to see a problem from a fresh perspective.
An example of fixation is functional fixedness (inability to see a new use for an object).
The Matchstick Problem: How would you arrange six matches to form four equilateral triangles?

16. The Matchstick Problem: Solution

17. Candle-Mounting Problem
Using these materials, how would you mount the candle on a bulletin board?

18. Candle-Mounting Problem: Solution

19. Problem: Tie the two ropes together. ?
Problem: Tie the two ropes together.
Use a screw driver, cotton balls and a matchbox.

21. The Nine-Dot problem Connect all 9 dots. Use only 4 lines.
Do not lift your pencil from the page after you begin drawing.

23. Confirmation Bias
We look for evidence to confirm our beliefs and ignore evidence that contradicts them.
For example, if one believes that all Italians are fit and go tanning, then they turn on MTV.
Look…I knew it was true!!!
But is it really?
2 – 4 – 6

24. Framing
90% of the population will be saved with this medication…..or
10% of the population will die despite this medication.
You should not drink more than two drinks per day….or
You should not drink more than 730 drinks a year.
What is the best way to market ground beef — as 25% fat or 75% lean?
The way a problem is presented can drastically effect the way we view it.

25. Heuristics can lead to Overconfidence…
A tendency to overestimate the accuracy of our beliefs and judgments.
Belief Perseverance- maintaining a belief even after it has been proven wrong.
Belief Bias- People will tend to accept any and all conclusions that fit in with their systems of belief, without challenge or any deep consideration of what they are actually agreeing with.
Exaggerated Fear