Chapter 7: Cognition: Thinking and Language

Which of the following is the best definition of concept?

a mental category used to group objects according to a shared feature

One difference between a seen image and one that is imagined is that:

an imagined one can be manipulated.

Which heuristic involves starting with a possible solution and then working in reverse order to see if the data support the solution?

backward-working heuristic

Framing is:

basing decisions on how possible outcomes are phrased

Which cognitive bias best describes our tendency to judge people based on first impressions?

confirmation bias

Letty has a very complex problem to solve. She decides to break the problem down into smaller, more manageable problems. Which strategy best describes Letty's approach?

creating sub groups

Mental set is a:

failure to try something other than what has served someone well in the past

People will accept a bet in which they are told they have an 80 percent chance of winning. However, people are less likely to accept a bet in which they are told they have a 20 percent chance of losing. In reality, both bets are the same. This is an example of which cognitive bias?

framing

Marisol was on the phone and had to jot down an important phone number. She rummaged through her purse for a pen, but all she found were a pair of tweezers and an old lipstick. Her failure to consider using the lipstick to write down the number is an example of:

functional fixedness

Chrissy relies on a "rule of thumb" to solve her problem. In scientific terms, Chrissy's strategy is called a(n):

heuristic

As cited in the text, many of Albert Einstein's creative insights involved the use of:

mental imagery

Georgia, a new mother, hears her baby crying and picks him up, which has always seemed to soothe him in the past. However, this time he continues to wail as his mother paces the floor with him, singing softly. Finally the baby lets out a good long burp and stops crying. Georgia's failure to try something other than what has served her well in the past is an example of:

mental set

Functional fixedness is:

the inability to see new uses for objects

According to the text, thinking is defined as:

the mental representation words, images and concepts and manipulation of information to solve problems, make decisions and engage in creative pursuits.

What is the major drawback of algorithms?

they may not be an algorithm that applies to one's particular problem

_____ is the mental representation words, images and concepts and manipulation of information to solve problems, make decisions and engage in creative pursuits.

thinking