Psychology Chapter on Thinking

Thinking

• Nature of Thinking:
  • Thinking is complex, internal processing of environmental information.
  • It's goal-driven and crucial for cognitive tasks like problem-solving, decision-making, reasoning, and creativity.
  • Thinking relies on mental representations:
    • Mental Images: Sensory experience representations (e.g., visualizing a scene).
    • Concepts: Grouping similar objects, events, or ideas based on shared characteristics.

Building Blocks of Thought

• Mental Images: Visualizing experiences or objects, like remembering details of a map or scene.
  • Mental images are mental representations of sensory experiences.
• Concepts:
  • Organize and streamline thinking.
  • Classify objects/events based on shared characteristics.

Processes of Thinking

Problem Solving

• Definition: Finding solutions to overcome obstacles to meet a goal.
• Steps:
  • Identify the problem
  • Represent the problem clearly
  • Plan and set sub-goals
  • Evaluate potential solutions
  • Select and execute a chosen solution
  • Assess results and adjust approach.
• Obstacles:
  • Mental set: Employing previously successful methods inappropriately when new approaches are suitable.
  • Functional fixedness: Inability to see new uses for familiar objects or ideas.
  • Lack of motivation/persistence: Failure to stay engaged with the solution process.

Reasoning

• Definition: Drawing conclusions and making inferences.
• Types:
  • Deductive: General statement to specific conclusion (e.g., All cats are animals, Mittens is a cat, therefore Mittens is an animal).
  • Inductive: Specific instances to a general conclusion (e.g., observing patterns).
  • Analogical: Drawing comparisons to solve problems.

Decision-Making

• Definition: Choosing between options based on evaluating costs and benefits.
• Judgment: Forming opinions and conclusions during decision-making.

Creative Thinking

• Definition: Generating novel or original ideas.
• Characteristics:
  • Novelty, originality, and appropriateness.
• Types:
  • Convergent: Finding one correct answer.
  • Divergent: Generating multiple solutions.
• Abilities involved: Fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration in the creative thought process.
• Process:
  • Preparation, Incubation, Illumination (insight), Verification.
• Strategies for Enhancing Creativity: Brainstorming, questioning, and exploring new perspectives.