Thinking

1
Thinking
2
What is thought?
Our concept of men may include all of the
following guys.

• There are basically two types of thought
• Concepts (schemas)usually based on prototypes.
• Images

But they are based on our prototype (ideal)
male..
3
How We Think

• For Classification /Efficiency Purposes Humans
  Create
• Concepts mental grouping of similar objects ,
  events, ideas, or people.
• Concepts are often organized into hierarchies.

4
Types of Concepts
5
How We Think

• Humans usually form concepts by creating a
• Prototype mental image or best example of a
  category. Allows us to incorporate items easily.

To most people, a robin is birdier than a
Penguin
6
Prototype cont.

• Is it a violation of the prototype to have this
  woman as your teacher?

7
An Items Failure To Match Prototype Leads to
Trouble Classifying It.
8
Problem Solving
9
Algorithms

• A rule that guarantees the right solution to a
  problem.
• Usually by using a formula.
• They work but are sometimes impractical.

10
Heuristics

• A rule of thumb that generally, but not always,
  can be used to make a judgment to solve a
  problem.
• It is fast, but is
• Prone to errors
• Two major types of heuristics.

11
Algorithms vs. Heuristics

• Unscramble
• -Algorithms go through all 32,000 combinations
• -Heuristics would separate vowels, etc.
• -Other heuristics?

12
Representativeness Heuristic
Who went to Harvard?
My friend Dan is a smart dude, but did not go to
Harvard (but he looks like he did).

• Judging a situation based on how similar the
  aspects are to the prototypes the person holds in
  their mind.
• Like thinking everyone from Rye is preppy, or
  someone with glasses is nerdy, or a blonde is not
  smart.

• If I tell you that Sonia Dara is a Sports
  Illustrated swimsuit model, you would make
  certain quick judgments (heuristics) about
  herlike about her interests or intelligence.
• She is an economics major at Harvard University.

13
Availability Heuristic
Which place would you be more scared of getting
mugged or even murdered?

• Judging a situation based on examples of similar
  situations that initially come to mind.
• Vivid examples in the news often cause an
  availability heuristic.

The Bronx, NY
The crime rate of Gary, Indiana is MUCH higher
than the Bronx. But when you think of crime,
which town comes to mind?
Gary, Indiana
I realize the Bronx picture is misleading.
14
Heuristics can lead to Overconfidence

• Our confidence is not a good indicator of how
  right we are.
• Belief Perseverance- maintaining a belief even
  after it has been proven wrong.
• Belief Bias- People will tend to accept any and
  all conclusions that fit in with their systems of
  belief, without challenge or any deep
  consideration of what they are actually agreeing
  with.

15
Methods of Problem Solving

• Insight sudden realization of how to solve a
  problem without a real strategy involved.
• The Light-Bulb going off when you get an idea.

16
Kohlers Chimpanzee Study Illustrates Insight
17
Hurdles to problem solving
18
Obstacles to Problem Solving

• Fixation refers to the inability to see a
  problem from a new perspective.

How would you arrange six matches to form 4 equal
lateral triangles?
19
Solution to Matchstick Problem
20
Mental set

• a.k.a. rigidity
• The tendency to fall into established thought
  patterns.
• Using a system that has been successful in the
  past, even when it may not be the best right now

21
How can she tie the ropes together?
22
Candle Mounting Problem
Using these materials, how would you mount the
candle on a bulletin board?
23
Candle Mounting Solution

• Inability to solve this problem may result from
  functional fixedness. Have to recognize that a
  box need not always serve as a container

24
Functional Fixedness

• The inability to see a new use for an object.

Think of as many uses as you can for a
25
Confirmation Bias

• We look for evidence to confirm our beliefs and
  ignore evidence that contradicts them.
• For example, if one believes that all Italians
  are in shape and go tanning, then they turn on
  MTV.

LookI knew it was true!!! But is it really?
26
Obstacles to Problem Solving

• Study What is the pattern?

27
Framing

• 90 of the population will be saved with this
  medication..or
• 10 of the population will die despite this
  medication.
• You should not drink more than two drinks per
  day.or
• You should not drink more than 730 drinks a year.
• Look at the following question and think about
  how the question is worded may effect the way it
  is answered.
• How can businesses become more socially
  responsible?

• The way a problem is presented can drastically
  effect the way we view it.

28
CREATIVITY

• Almost impossible to define.
• Little correlation between creativity and
  intelligence.
• Convergent Thinking versus Divergent Thinking