Cognitive Processes in Decision Making

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is the main function of thinking according to the concepts presented?

To avoid making decisions

To memorize information without understanding it

To ignore past experiences and outcomes

To take information, consider it, and plan actions (correct)

Which of the following best describes an analogical representation?

Word associations that have no physical form

Abstract ideas about concepts

Frameworks for knowledge about unrelated topics

Models based on real characteristics of what they represent (correct)

What is a potential drawback of using schemas and scripts?

They slow down decision-making processes.

They provide too much detailed information.

They can reinforce stereotypes and biases about groups. (correct)

They create complex and unclear frameworks.

What are heuristics often used for in decision making?

To provide mental shortcuts for quick decision making Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'anchoring' refer to in the context of relative comparisons?

Basing value judgments on the first piece of information encountered Signup and view all the answers

Which heuristic emphasizes the potential losses or gains of an option?

Framing Signup and view all the answers

What best defines decision making in contrast to problem solving?

Making a selection versus overcoming obstacles to reach a goal Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a characteristic of the affective heuristic?

It is based on emotional responses to options. Signup and view all the answers

What does emotionality refer to in personality assessment?

The intensity of emotional response Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes strong situations from weak situations in personality behavior?

Weak situations provide less structure Signup and view all the answers

Which personality trait typically increases with age?

Emotional stability Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of the nomothetic approach to personality assessment?

Focuses on common traits across individuals Signup and view all the answers

Which method is least reliable in measuring personality traits?

Projective measures Signup and view all the answers

The Big Five Theory includes which of the following traits?

Agreeableness Signup and view all the answers

What describes a trait of high conscientiousness?

Goal-oriented and disciplined Signup and view all the answers

High levels of neuroticism are associated with which emotional state?

Emotional instability and anxiety Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about introverts and extroverts is true?

The main difference is in how they gain energy Signup and view all the answers

What happens typically during young adulthood regarding personality traits?

Most significant changes occur due to large life events Signup and view all the answers

What is Broca’s area primarily involved in?

Speech production Signup and view all the answers

Which type of aphasia is characterized by difficulty in understanding the meaning of words?

Receptive aphasia Signup and view all the answers

What is the key difference between feelings and moods?

Feelings are related to specific events, while moods are diffuse and long-lasting. Signup and view all the answers

Which theory suggests that physiological responses happen independently, but at the same time as emotional responses?

Cannon-Bard Theory Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the amygdala in emotional processing?

Processing emotional significance and generating reactions Signup and view all the answers

What does Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs propose?

Physiological needs must be met before progressing to higher needs. Signup and view all the answers

According to the Yerkes-Dodson Law, performance is best under what condition?

Moderate arousal Signup and view all the answers

Which type of motivation is driven by external rewards?

Extrinsic motivation Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of personality traits?

They are consistent patterns of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a state of deficiency that leads to goal-directed behaviors?

Need Signup and view all the answers

What is the facial feedback hypothesis associated with?

Emotional experiences triggered by facial expressions Signup and view all the answers

Which is classified as a secondary emotion?

Guilt Signup and view all the answers

How does damage to Broca’s area typically affect a person?

Limited language production Signup and view all the answers

What does the concept of temperaments refer to?

Broader tendencies to feel or act in certain ways Signup and view all the answers

What is the main characteristic of the availability heuristic?

Making decisions based on easily retrievable information Signup and view all the answers

Which emotion-driven decision-making concept involves predicting how future events will affect our emotions?

Affective forecasting Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between fluid intelligence and crystallized intelligence according to Cattell's theory?

Fluid intelligence involves logic without prior knowledge, whereas crystallized intelligence relies on experience. Signup and view all the answers

How can functional fixedness negatively impact problem solving?

By limiting the number of possible solutions considered Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'insight' refer to in problem solving?

The sudden realization of a solution Signup and view all the answers

Which theory posits that intelligence consists of three components: analytical, creative, and practical intelligence?

Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory of Intelligence Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the representativeness heuristic?

Making decisions based on similar prototypes Signup and view all the answers

What is the underlying definition of language?

A system of communication through sounds and symbols governed by grammatical rules Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following represents the surface structure of a sentence?

The choice of words used in a sentence Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of adopting program B according to the given probabilistic outcomes?

A one third probability of saving 600 people with a two thirds probability of saving nobody Signup and view all the answers

Which problem-solving strategy involves reorganizing thoughts to find a solution?

Restructuring Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes Spearman’s Theory of General Intelligence?

There is a single general factor underlying intelligence. Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of having too many options when making a decision?

Reduces the likelihood of making a decision Signup and view all the answers

What is 'morpheme' in the context of language?

The smallest meaningful unit in language Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Thought Processes

Information Processing: Thinking involves taking information, building models of the world, setting goals, and planning actions.
Representations: Analogical representations capture actual characteristics (e.g., maps, clocks). Symbolic representations are abstract (e.g., words, concepts).
Schemas and Scripts: Schemas are frameworks for knowledge about a topic (e.g., dog vs. horse). Scripts are schemas for specific events (e.g., restaurant visit). Schemas and scripts allow for fast processing but can reinforce stereotypes.

Decision Making and Problem Solving

Decision Making: Selecting the best choice from multiple options, weighing evidence, assessing risks, comparing options.
Problem Solving: Overcoming obstacles to achieve a goal, using various strategies.
Heuristics: Mental shortcuts helping in decision-making. They are quick but can lead to biases.
Relative Comparison: Using comparisons to judge value, including anchoring (relying on the first piece of info) and framing (emphasizing gains or losses.)
Availability Heuristic: Making decisions based on readily available information, leading to overestimating risks.
Affective Heuristic: Using emotions to make decisions.
Representativeness Heuristic: Placing a person or object into a category based on similarity to a prototype.
Paradox of Choice: Too many choices lead to conflict and dissatisfaction; fewer choices lead to higher satisfaction.
Problem-Solving Strategies:
Organization of subgoals: Planning a route to the goal, developing strategies for obstacles, tracking progress and evaluating results.
Mental sets: Using past problem-solving strategies, which can be problematic.
Functional fixedness: Inability to think of novel usages for objects.
Restructuring: Reframing a problem.
Working backward: Starting from the goal.
Algorithms: Guidelines guaranteeing a correct answer.
Analogies: Transferring elements of one problem to a similar one.
Insight: Sudden realization of a solution.

Intelligence

Definition: The ability to reason, make decisions, understand events, solve problems, understand complex ideas, learn quickly, and adapt to environmental changes.
Measurement: Stanford-Binet Intelligence Quotient (IQ) measures intelligence, calculated as (mental age/chronological age) × 100.
Theories:
Spearman's General Intelligence (g-factor): One general factor underlies intelligence.
Cattell's Theory: General intelligence (g) consists of fluid (abstract reasoning) and crystallized (knowledge) intelligence.
Gardner's Theory: Multiple intelligences exist.
Sternberg's Triarchic Theory: Analytical, creative, and practical intelligence components.

Language

Definition: A system for communication, using sounds and symbols governed by grammatical rules.
Infinite Generativity: Capacity to generate an endless number of sentences.
Language Structures:
Phonology: Basic speech sounds.
Morphology: Smallest units of meaning.
Syntax: Rules for combining words and phrases.
Semantics: Underlying meaning.
Language in the Brain: Broca's area (speech production), Wernicke's area (speech comprehension). Aphasia results from damage to these areas.

Emotion

Definition: Immediate, specific, negative or positive response to events or thoughts. Emotions have psychological, behavioral, and feeling components.
Feeling vs. Mood: Feeling is the subjective experience; mood is a diffuse, long-lasting emotional state with no identifiable object.
Circumplex Model: Emotions are plotted on valence (positive/negative) and activation/arousal (calm/alert).
Primary and Secondary Emotions: Primary emotions are innate, adaptive, and universal (e.g., joy, sadness). Secondary emotions are blends of primary emotions.
Amygdala and Emotion: Processes emotional significance, generates emotional reactions, involved in social stimulus perception. Information reaches amygdala via 2 pathways: fast (thalamus-amygdala), and slow (thalamus-cortex-amygdala).
Major Theories of Emotion: Common sense, James-Lange, Cannon-Bard, Schachter-Singer (two-factor).
Misattribution of Arousal: Mistaking the source of arousal.

Motivation

Definition: Underlying process energizing, guiding and maintaining behaviors toward a goal.
Motivational States: Energizing, directive, persistent, and strong.
Types of Motivation:
Extrinsic: Behavior driven by external rewards.
Intrinsic: Behavior driven by internal feelings.
Yerkes-Dodson Law: Optimal performance results from moderate arousal.

Personality

Definition: Consistent pattern of thoughts, behaviors, and emotional responses.
Personality Traits: Enduring characteristics influencing behavior.
Temperaments: Broad tendencies to feel or act in specific ways.
Situationism: Behaviors determined by situations more than personality traits.
Interactionism: Behaviors influenced by both situations and personalities.
Assessing Personality: Idiographic (individual-focused), nomothetic (common traits).
Measures:
Projective: Ambiguous stimuli to reveal unconscious processes (e.g., Rorschach, TAT).
Self-Report: Participants rate themselves on traits.
Behavioral: Measures actual actions.
Theories:
Trait Approach: Emphasizes individual differences on traits.
Big Five Theory: Five factors (openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism) describe personality.
Biological Trait Approach: Traits based on biological processes.

Needs and Drives

Needs: State of deficiency prompting goal-directed behavior, biological or social (e.g., water).
Drives: Psychological state creating arousal to satisfy needs.
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: Sequence of needs that must be met; basic needs first.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Explore the mechanisms behind information processing, decision making, and problem-solving strategies. This quiz will test your understanding of schemas, heuristics, and how they impact our choices. Assess your knowledge on these essential cognitive processes.