Myers' Psychology for AP (module 35)

algorithm

a methodical, logical rule or procedure that guarantees problem solving a particular problem. Contrasts with the usually speedier --but also more error-prone-- use of heuristics

heuristic

a simple thinking strategy that often allows us to make judgements and solve problems efficiently; usually speedier but also more error-prone than algorithms

insight

a sudden realization of a problem's solution; contrasts with strategy-based solutions

mental set

a tendency to approach a problem in one particular way, often a way that has been successful in the past

confirmation bias

a tendency to search for information that supports our preconceptions and to ignore or distort contradictory evidence

intuition

an effortless, immediate, automatic feeling or thought, as contrasted with explicit, conscious reasoning

belief perseverance

clinging to one's initial conceptions after the basis on which they were formed has been discredited

availability heuristic

estimating the likelihood of events based on their availability in memory; if instances come readily to mind (perhaps because of their vividness), we presume such events are common

representativeness heuristic

judging the likelihood of things in terms of how well they seem to represent, or match, particular prototypes; may lead us to ignore other relevant information

overconfidence

the tendency to be more confident than correct--to overestimate the accuracy of our beliefs and judgements

framing

the way an issue is posed; how an issue is framed can significantly affect decisions and judgements