Psychology Chapter 9a Learning Curve

At the zoo, a group of chimpanzees has found a way to groom each other with branches from a fake tree in their cage. The younger chimpanzees invented this grooming technique and are passing it on to their peers and offspring. Thus, they are:

transmitting cultural innovations

To solve a problem, sometimes one resorts to trial and error. If a guaranteed solution is desired, one may follow a(n) _____, which is a step-by-step procedure.

algorithm

People tend to search for information that supports what they already believe. This is known as _____.

confirmation bias

To solve a problem, one often makes use of a simple thinking strategy. This strategy will allow one to make judgments and solve problems efficiently by following a(n):

heuristic

The sudden realization that one has solved a problem is called:

insight

A few days before flying to San Francisco, Jim watched a documentary about the 1906 earthquake that devastated the city. Even though the chance of getting caught in an earthquake while in San Francisco was relatively minor, Jim decided to cancel his trip. This best illustrates:

the availability heuristic

The ability to create ideas that are both different and useful is linked to:

academic intelligence

If someone estimates the likelihood of events based on the ease with which they retrieve them from memory, they presume such events are common. This is called the _____.

availability heuristic

The mental process of forming concepts is an example of _____.

cognition

At the beginning of the semester, Dr. Walker asks his students what grade they think they will get at the end of the semester. When he asks if they think they'll get an "A," the majority raise their hand. This best illustrates:

overconfidence

A(n) _____ is a mental image of all the features associated with a category.

prototype