Psychology 100 Chapter 8 Part 2

Problem Solving and Decision Making

• Problem Solving: Involves reasoning to validate conclusions or determine rational outcomes.
• Decision Making: Selecting the best alternative from multiple options available.
• Active Efforts: Problem solving is a proactive approach to achieve goals that are not easily accessible.

Types of Problems

• Inducing Structure: Involves discovering relationships among numbers, words, or symbols.
• Arrangement: Requires arranging elements to meet a specific criterion.
• Transformation: Involves carrying out a sequence of transformations to reach a goal, e.g., solving a Rubik's Cube.

Specific Problem Types

• Series Completion Problems: Example sequence is 11233455677.
• Analogy Problems: E.g., "Merchant is to Sell as Lawyer is to Client."

Barriers to Problem Solving

• Irrelevant Information: Misjudging necessary numerical data when solving problems.
• Functional Fixedness: Viewing an item solely based on its common use, which can hinder problem-solving.
• Mental Set: Persisting with previously effective problem-solving strategies, even when they are less effective in new situations.
• Unnecessary Constraints: Assuming restrictions exist that do not, impeding creative problem-solving.

Reasoning Types

• Deductive Reasoning: Derives specific conclusions from general premises; if premises are true, conclusions must be true.
• Syllogism: A logical structure where if premises are true, the conclusion follows logically.
• Inductive Reasoning: Uses specific instances to form general conclusions, commonly used in the scientific method.

Decision Making Processes

• Insight: A sudden realization of a solution; often described as an “aha!” moment.
• Heuristics: Mental shortcuts or informal guidelines that simplify decision-making, reducing cognitive load.
• Intuition: Quick, subconscious pattern recognition that manifests as a gut feeling.

Insight in Problem Solving

• Focuses on identifying goals and strategies to achieve them.
• Insight occurs when the solution to a problem suddenly becomes clear, often through restructuring the problem.

Heuristics in Decision Making

• Illustrates how people may misjudge probabilities and outcomes, as demonstrated in coin toss sequences.