Key Terms

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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 his or her 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