Mastering the Art of Problem-Solving

Overview of Problem-Solving Mental Process

• Problem-solving is a mental process that involves discovering, analyzing, and solving problems to overcome obstacles and find the best solution.
• The problem-solving cycle includes identifying the problem, defining the problem, forming a strategy, organizing information, allocating resources, and monitoring progress.
• Identifying the problem is not always easy and can involve asking questions, breaking it down, looking at it from different perspectives, and conducting research.
• Defining the problem involves operationally defining each aspect and setting goals while differentiating between facts and opinions.
• Forming a strategy involves brainstorming potential solutions, evaluating and narrowing them down, and choosing between heuristics or algorithms.
• Heuristics are best used when time is of the essence, while algorithms are better for accuracy but consume more time and resources.
• Organizing information involves gathering all available data to make an accurate decision and avoid bias.
• Allocating resources involves determining the priority of the problem and considering available resources, deadlines, and possible risks.
• Monitoring progress involves testing different solutions and evaluating their effectiveness to make necessary adjustments.
• The problem-solving process is not always sequential, and it is common to skip or repeat steps.
• The best strategy for solving a problem depends on the situation and individual preferences.
• Problem-solving is essential in daily life, from deciding what to eat to making significant life decisions.

Obstacles to Problem-Solving and Understanding the Psychology of Creativity

Obstacles to Problem-Solving:

• People can make assumptions about constraints and obstacles that prevent certain solutions.
• Functional fixedness prevents people from fully seeing all of the different options that might be available to find a solution.
• It's important to distinguish between information that is relevant to the issue and irrelevant data that can lead to faulty solutions.
• A mental set is a tendency to only use solutions that have worked in the past rather than looking for alternative ideas.

Understanding the Psychology of Creativity:

• Creativity involves the ability to develop new ideas or utilize objects or information in novel ways.
• Two primary components of creativity include originality and functionality.
• Creativity can often be seen in people who seem stimulating, interesting, and have a variety of unusual thoughts, perceive the world with a fresh perspective, or make great creative achievements.
• Experts distinguish between different types of creativity such as mini-c, little-c, pro-C, and big-C creativity.
• Mini-c creativity involves personally meaningful ideas and insights that are known only to the self.
• Little-c creativity involves mostly everyday thinking and problem-solving.
• Pro-C creativity takes place among professionals who are skilled and creative in their respective fields.
• Big-C creativity involves creating works and ideas that are considered great in a particular field.

Obstacles to Problem-Solving and Understanding the Psychology of Creativity

Obstacles to Problem-Solving:

• People can make assumptions about constraints and obstacles that prevent certain solutions.
• Functional fixedness prevents people from fully seeing all of the different options that might be available to find a solution.
• It's important to distinguish between information that is relevant to the issue and irrelevant data that can lead to faulty solutions.
• A mental set is a tendency to only use solutions that have worked in the past rather than looking for alternative ideas.

Understanding the Psychology of Creativity:

• Creativity involves the ability to develop new ideas or utilize objects or information in novel ways.
• Two primary components of creativity include originality and functionality.
• Creativity can often be seen in people who seem stimulating, interesting, and have a variety of unusual thoughts, perceive the world with a fresh perspective, or make great creative achievements.
• Experts distinguish between different types of creativity such as mini-c, little-c, pro-C, and big-C creativity.
• Mini-c creativity involves personally meaningful ideas and insights that are known only to the self.
• Little-c creativity involves mostly everyday thinking and problem-solving.
• Pro-C creativity takes place among professionals who are skilled and creative in their respective fields.
• Big-C creativity involves creating works and ideas that are considered great in a particular field.