Domain 5: Module 25 PPT

Thinking About Psychology:
The Science of Mind and Behavior 4e

Charles T. Blair-Broeker & Randal M. Ernst

Lecture Slides

by Kent Korek - Germantown High School

BFW Publishers, © 2019

• Explore how we

process and use
information to
solve problems.

Major Concepts

• Cognitive abilities
• Concept
• Prototype
• Concept hierarchy

Cognitive abilities include all
mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, and
remembering

Cognitive Abilities

Concept is a mental grouping based on shared similarity

• Categorizing items in one’s environment

Concept

Prototype is a typical best example incorporation
the major features of a concept
• The closer a new object is to our concept
prototype the easier it is
to categorize

Prototype

• A means to keep mental information organized from basic concepts to specific ones

Concept Hierarchy

Multiple Choice

What is the difference between a concept and a prototype?

• A concept is a physical object, while a prototype is an idea
• A concept is a finished product, while a prototype is an unfinished idea
• A concept is a tangible item, while a prototype is an intangible concept
• A concept is an abstract idea or general notion, while a prototype is a preliminary model or version of a product.

Categorize

Options (12)

Penguin

Bird

Mazda

Vehicle

iPhone

Laptop

Yeti

Shoes

Kobe Bryant

SpaceX Rocket

Fruit

Exercise

Organize these options into the right categories

Prototype

Concept

Major Concepts

• Algorithm
• Heuristic
• Insight

Algorithm is a
problem-solving
strategy that
guarantees the solution
to a problem

• Not always the most efficient method

Algorithm

Heuristic is a rule-of-thumb problem-solving
strategy that makes finding a solution more likely
and efficient but does not guarantee a solution

• These can be handy shortcuts, or they can get
us into trouble

Heuristic

Insight is the sudden realization (Aha!) of the
solution to a problem

Insight

Major Concepts

• Mental set
• Fixation
• Functional fixedness
• Confirmation bias
• Availability heuristic
• Overconfidence

• Framing

Mental set is the tendency to approach a particular problem in a particular way

• The set may or may not be helpful in solving new problems

Mental Set

Fixation is a mental set applied so rigidly that it hinders the solution of a problem

• One needs to think beyond the mental
set to solve the new
problem

Fixation

Draw

Try to solve the problem

Fixation is a mental set applied so rigidly that it hinders the solution of a problem

• One needs to think beyond the mental
set to solve the new
problem

Fixation

Functional fixedness is the tendency to think of things only in terms of their usual functions

Functional Fixedness

Functional fixedness is the tendency to think of things only in terms of their usual functions

Functional Fixedness

Confirmation bias is the tendency to focus on information that supports preconceptions

Confirmation Bias

Availability heuristic is estimating the likelihood of
events based on their availability in memory

• Can be correct or incorrect

Availability Heuristic

Overconfidence is confidence that is greater than accuracy

Overconfidence

Poll

Would you prefer to buy meat that is labeled as 25% fat or 75% lean?

• 25% Fat

• 75% Lean

Poll

Would you undergo surgery that is 99% successful or has a 1% failure rate?

• 99% successful

• 1% failure

Framing is how an issue is worded or presented, which can influence decisions and judgements

Framing