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Social Sci LibreTexts

Glossary

  • Page ID
    92855
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    Example and Directions
    Words (or words that have the same definition)The definition is case sensitive(Optional) Image to display with the definition [Not displayed in Glossary, only in pop-up on pages](Optional) Caption for Image(Optional) External or Internal Link(Optional) Source for Definition
    (Eg. "Genetic, Hereditary, DNA ...")(Eg. "Relating to genes or heredity")The infamous double helix https://bio.libretexts.org/CC-BY-SA; Delmar Larsen
    Glossary Entries
    Word(s)DefinitionImageCaptionLinkSource
    AttentionThe cognitive process of focusing mental resources on specific information while ignoring other stimuli    
    Artificial Intelligence (AI)The simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think and learn    
    Auditory PerceptionThe process of interpreting sounds and speech, and how the brain processes auditory information    
    BehaviorismA theoretical approach in psychology that emphasizes observable behavior over internal mental states    
    BiasA systematic error in thinking or judgment, often caused by personal experiences, emotions, or cognitive limitations    
    Bottom-Up ProcessingPerception that starts with the sensory input and builds up to a higher-level cognitive process like recognition    
    Cognitive LoadThe total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory at any given time    
    Cognitive MapA mental representation of the layout of the environment, often used to navigate spaces    
    Cognitive NeuroscienceAn interdisciplinary field that examines the connection between the brain and cognitive processes    
    ConstructivismA theory in which individuals construct knowledge through their experiences and interactions with the world    
    Dual-Task InterferenceThe phenomenon in which performance on one task is impaired when another task is performed simultaneously    
    Distributed CognitionA perspective that views cognition as a process that is shared across people, tools, and environments    
    Developmental Cognitive PsychologyThe study of how cognitive processes develop and change across the lifespan    
    EncodingThe process of transforming sensory input into a format that can be stored in memory    
    Executive FunctionHigher-level cognitive processes such as planning, decision-making, and problem-solving that involve the prefrontal cortex    
    Feature Integration TheoryA theory that explains how visual features are combined to create a perception of an object    
    Framing EffectA cognitive bias where people make decisions based on how information is presented, rather than the actual content    
    Gestalt PsychologyA school of thought emphasizing that the whole of a perception is greater than the sum of its parts    
    GeneralizationThe cognitive process of applying learned knowledge or behaviors to new, similar situations    
    HeuristicA mental shortcut or rule of thumb used to simplify decision-making or problem-solving    
    Hub-and-Spoke ModelA model of the brain's organization where sensory modalities are integrated in a central hub, with specific areas (spokes) involved in different tasks    
    Implicit MemoryUnconscious memory that influences behavior without conscious awareness, such as skills or conditioned responses    
    Information Processing TheoryA cognitive theory that compares the mind to a computer, emphasizing how information is encoded, stored, and retrieved    
    JudgmentThe cognitive process of evaluating and making decisions about information or situations    
    Joint AttentionThe shared focus of two individuals on an object or event, often studied in developmental psychology    
    Kantian ConstructivismA theory emphasizing that perception is shaped by both sensory information and innate cognitive structures    
    Knowledge RepresentationHow information is mentally stored and organized in the brain    
    Long-Term MemoryA type of memory that can store large amounts of information for long periods, possibly for a lifetime    
    LearningA relatively permanent change in behavior or knowledge due to experience or practice    
    Mental RotationThe ability to visualize and manipulate objects in the mind's eye    
    MetacognitionAwareness and control of one's own cognitive processes, such as thinking about thinking    
    NeuroplasticityThe brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections in response to learning or injury    
    Neurocognitive DisorderA category of mental disorders that affect cognitive functions like memory, attention, and perception    
    Object RecognitionThe cognitive process of identifying objects based on their features    
    Overconfidence BiasThe tendency for people to overestimate the accuracy of their knowledge or judgments    
    PerceptionThe process by which sensory information is organized and interpreted to form an understanding of the environment    
    Problem-SolvingThe cognitive process of identifying a problem and finding a solution    
    PrimingA phenomenon in which exposure to one stimulus influences the response to a subsequent stimulus, often unconsciously    
    Prospective MemoryThe ability to remember to perform an action in the future, such as remembering to take medication    
    Quasi-Experimental DesignA research method that examines cause-and-effect relationships but lacks random assignment to groups    
    Quantitative ResearchResearch involving numerical data, often used to study cognitive processes in large populations    
    RecallThe ability to retrieve information from memory without the presence of external cues    
    RecognitionThe process of identifying information as familiar when presented with it    
    ReinforcementThe process of increasing the likelihood of a behavior by providing a reward or positive outcome    
    SchemasMental frameworks or structures that organize and interpret information, influencing perception and memory    
    Selective AttentionThe ability to focus on one specific aspect of the environment while ignoring others    
    Serial Position EffectA phenomenon where people tend to recall the first and last items in a list better than those in the middle    
    Top-Down ProcessingPerception that is guided by pre-existing knowledge, expectations, or context    
    Theory of MindThe ability to attribute mental states (beliefs, desires, intentions) to oneself and others and understand that others' behaviors are driven by their mental states    
    Unconscious ProcessingCognitive processing that occurs without conscious awareness, influencing decisions and behavior    
    U-Shaped CurveA pattern in which performance initially improves, then worsens, and then improves again over time, often seen in developmental psychology    
    Visual ImageryThe mental representation of visual information without the presence of external stimuli    
    Visual SearchThe cognitive process of searching for a specific object or feature within a visual scene    
    Working MemoryA system for temporarily holding and manipulating information necessary for cognitive tasks like problem-solving and reasoning    
    WisdomThe ability to make sound judgments and decisions based on experience and understanding of life complexities    
    XenophobiaA cognitive bias where people tend to have an irrational fear or dislike of people from other countries or cultures    
    Yerkes-Dodson LawA theory that suggests an optimal level of arousal for performance, where too little or too much arousal impairs cognitive performance    
    YawningA behavioral and physiological response that may be linked to cognitive regulation of arousal and attention    
    Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)A concept in developmental psychology describing the difference between what a learner can do independently and what they can do with guidance    
    Zeigarnik EffectThe tendency to remember uncompleted tasks better than completed ones, due to the cognitive tension created by unfinished business    
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