Chapter 8 Cognition, Creativity and Intelligence.pdf

Chapter 8 Cognition, Creativity and Intelligence Content Concept of thinking Formation of concepts Problem-solving Creative thinking Human intelligence What Is Thinking? Cognition: mentally processing internal representations (mental expressions) of a problem or si...

Chapter 8 Cognition, Creativity and Intelligence Content Concept of thinking Formation of concepts Problem-solving Creative thinking Human intelligence What Is Thinking? Cognition: mentally processing internal representations (mental expressions) of a problem or situation; thinking Image: picture-like mental representation Concept: idea representing a category of objects or events Language: words or symbols, and rules for combining them Concept Formation Concept formation: process of classifying information into meaningful categories Positive instance: object or event that belongs to the concept class Negative instance: object or event that does not belong to the concept class Conceptual rule: guideline for deciding whether objects or events belong to a concept class Mechanical Problem- Solving Mechanical solution: achieved by trial and error or by a fixed procedure Algorithm (rote): learned set of rules that always leads to a correct solution of a problem Solutions by Understanding Understanding: deeper comprehension of a problem; required for problems that cannot be solved mechanically General solution: states the requirements for success but not in enough detail for further action Functional solution: a workable solution Heuristics Heuristics: strategy for identifying and evaluating problem solutions Random search strategy: all possibilities are tried, more or less randomly Fixations Fixation: tendency to repeat wrong solutions or to become blind to alternatives Functional fixedness: inability to see new uses (functions) for familiar objects or for things that were used in a particular way  Emotional barriers: inhibition and fear of making a fool of oneself or of making a mistake Barriers to Cultural barriers: belief that fantasy is a waste and feelings and humor have no place in Problem- problem-solving Learned barriers: taboos; staying with Solving conventional uses Perceptual barriers: habits leading to a failure to identify important elements of a problem  Experts are better problem-solvers than novices because they Experts have more acquired strategies have more specific organized knowledge and are better at intuitively recognizing patterns are better at automatic processing: fast, Novices fairly effortless thinking based on experience  Inductive thought: going from specific facts or observations to general principles Deductive thought: going from general principles to specific situations Creative Logical thought: going from given Thinking information to new conclusions based on explicit rules Illogical thought: thought that is intuitive, associative, or personal Stages of Creative Thought Orientation: defining the problem Preparation: gaining as much information as possible Incubation: the problem, while not appearing to be actively worked on, is still “cooking” in the background Illumination: the “a-ha” experience; rapid insight into the solution Verification: testing and critically evaluating the solution Living More Creatively Find something that surprises you every day Try to surprise at least one person every day If something sparks your interest, follow it Make a commitment to doing things well Seek challenges Take time for thinking and relaxing Start doing more of what you really enjoy, less of what you dislike Look at problems from many viewpoints  Intelligence: global capacity to act purposefully, think rationally, and deal effectively with the environment g-factor: general ability factor, or core of general Human intelligence that involves reasoning, problem- solving ability, knowledge, memory, and successful Intelligence adaptation to one’s surroundings Operational definition: operations used to measure a concept; in the case of intelligence, creating an intelligence test Fluid and Crystallized Intelligence Fluid intelligence: solving novel problems involving perceptual speed or rapid insight; declines rapidly after middle age Crystallized intelligence: solving problems using already acquired knowledge—can actually increase or at least decline very little until advanced age  Language: linguistic abilities; used by writers, lawyers, comedians Multiple Intelligences: Logic and math: numeric abilities; used by scientists, accountants, programmers Howard Gardner Visual and spatial: pictorial abilities; used by engineers, inventors, artists Music: musical abilities; used by composers, musicians, music critics  Bodily-kinesthetic: physical abilities; used by dancers, athletes, surgeons Multiple Intrapersonal: self-knowledge; used by poets, actors, ministers Intelligences: Howard Interpersonal: social abilities; used by psychologists, teachers, politicians Gardner Naturalistic: ability to understand natural environment; used by biologists, medicine men, organic farmers