psy1 finals

• Cognitive approach is one method of studying how we process, store, and use information and how this information, in turn, influences what we notice, perceive, learn, remember, believe and feel.
• TWO COGNITIVE PROCESSES:

  1. Thinking

  2. Language
• Thinking, which is sometimes referred to as reasoning, involves mental processes that are used to form concepts, solve problems, and engage in creative activities.
• Language is a special form of communication in which we learn and

  use complex rules to form and manipulate symbols (words or gestures) that are used to generate an endless number of meaningful sentences.
• FORMING CONCEPTS

  Exemplar Model

  Prototype Theory
• Exemplar Model says that you form a concept of an object, event, animal, or person by defining or making a mental list of the essential characteristics of a particular thing.
• Prototype Theory says that you form a concept by creating a mental image that is based on the average characteristics of an object. This “average" looking object is called a prototype. To identify a new object, you match it to one of your already formed prototypes of objects, people, or animals.
• Problem solving involves searching for some rule, plan, or strategy

  that results in our reaching a certain goal that is currently out

  of reach.
• DIFFERENT WAYS OF THINKING

  Algorithms

  Heuristics

  Artificial Intelligence
• Algorithms are a fixed set of rules that, if followed correctly, will eventually lead to a situation.
• Heuristics are rules of thumb, clever and creative mental shortcuts, that re-duce the number of operations and allow one to solve problems easily and quickly.
• Artificial Intelligence which means programming

  machines (computers and robots) to imitate human thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• THREE STRATEGIES FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS

  1. CHANGING ONE'S MENTAL SET

  2. USING ANALOGIES

  3. FORMING SUB-GOALS
• 1. CHANGING ONE'S MENTAL SET

  Functional Fixedness refers to a mental set that is characterized by the inability to see an object as having a function different from its usual one. Insight is the sudden grasp of a solution after many incorrect attempts.
• USING ANALOGIES

  Analogy is a strategy for finding a similarity between the new situation and an old, familiar situation.
• FORMING SUB-GOALS

  is a strategy that involves breaking down the overall problems into

  separate parts, when completed in order, will result in a solution.
• TWO AMAZINGLY SIMPLE PRINCIPLES WORD

  Word

  GRAMMAR
• WORD

  is an arbitrary pairing between a sound or symbol and a meaning.
• Grammar refers to a set of rules for combining words into and sentences to express an infinite number of thoughts that can be

  understood by others.