Key Terms

algorithm: problem-solving strategy characterized by a specific set of instructions
analytical intelligence: aligned with academic problem solving and computations
anchoring bias: faulty heuristic in which you fixate on a single aspect of a problem to find a solution
artificial concept: concept that is defined by a very specific set of characteristics
availability heuristic: faulty heuristic in which you make a decision based on information readily available to you
cognition: thinking, including perception, learning, problem solving, judgment, and memory
cognitive psychology: field of psychology dedicated to studying every aspect of how people think
cognitive script: set of behaviors that are performed the same way each time; also referred to as an event schema
concept: category or grouping of linguistic information, objects, ideas, or life experiences
confirmation bias: faulty heuristic in which you focus on information that confirms your beliefs
convergent thinking: providing correct or established answers to problems
creative intelligence: ability to produce new products, ideas, or inventing a new, novel solution to a problem
creativity: ability to generate, create, or discover new ideas, solutions, and possibilities
crystallized intelligence: characterized by acquired knowledge and the ability to retrieve it
cultural intelligence: ability with which people can understand and relate to those in another culture
divergent thinking: ability to think “outside the box” to arrive at novel solutions to a problem
dyscalculia: learning disability that causes difficulty in learning or comprehending mathematics
dysgraphia: learning disability that causes extreme difficulty in writing legibly
dyslexia: common learning disability in which letters are not processed properly by the brain
emotional intelligence: ability to understand emotions and motivations in yourself and others
event schema: set of behaviors that are performed the same way each time; also referred to as a cognitive script
fluid intelligence: ability to see complex relationships and solve problems
Flynn effect: observation that each generation has a significantly higher IQ than the previous generation
functional fixedness: inability to see an object as useful for any other use other than the one for which it was intended
grammar: set of rules that are used to convey meaning through the use of a lexicon
heuristic: mental shortcut that saves time when solving a problem
hindsight bias: belief that the event just experienced was predictable, even though it really wasn’t
intelligence quotient: (also, IQ) score on a test designed to measure intelligence
language: communication system that involves using words to transmit information from one individual to another
lexicon: the words of a given language
mental set: continually using an old solution to a problem without results
morpheme: smallest unit of language that conveys some type of meaning
Multiple Intelligences Theory: Gardner’s theory that each person possesses at least eight types of intelligence
natural concept: mental groupings that are created “naturally” through your experiences
norming: administering a test to a large population so data can be collected to reference the normal scores for a population and its groups
overgeneralization: extension of a rule that exists in a given language to an exception to the rule
phoneme: basic sound unit of a given language
practical intelligence: aka “street smarts”
problem-solving strategy: method for solving problems
prototype: best representation of a concept
range of reaction: each person’s response to the environment is unique based on their genetic make-up
representative bias: faulty heuristic in which you stereotype someone or something without a valid basis for your judgment
representative sample: subset of the population that accurately represents the general population
role schema: set of expectations that define the behaviors of a person occupying a particular role
schema: (plural = schemata) mental construct consisting of a cluster or collection of related concepts
semantics: process by which we derive meaning from morphemes and words
standard deviation: measure of variability that describes the difference between a set of scores and their mean
standardization: method of testing in which administration, scoring, and interpretation of results are consistent
syntax: manner by which words are organized into sentences
trial and error: problem-solving strategy in which multiple solutions are attempted until the correct one is found
triarchic theory of intelligence: Sternberg’s theory of intelligence; three facets of intelligence: practical, creative, and analytical
working backwards: heuristic in which you begin to solve a problem by focusing on the end result