Module 3 Part 4: Cognition

Cognition refers to the mental processes involved in acquiring, processing, storing, and using information. These processes include perception, memory, attention, language, problem-solving, and decision-making.

Metacognition is the awareness and understanding of one's own cognitive processes. It involves self-regulation and control over thinking and learning activities, such as planning, monitoring, and evaluating one's understanding and performance.

A concept is a mental grouping of similar objects, events, ideas, or people. Concepts help in organizing and categorizing information in the mind.

A prototype is a mental image or the best example of a category. It helps in quickly categorizing new objects or ideas by comparing them to this typical example.

An algorithm is a step-by-step procedure or formula for solving a problem. Algorithms guarantee a correct solution if followed correctly, though they can be time-consuming.

A heuristic is a mental shortcut or rule of thumb that simplifies decision-making. Heuristics are quicker than algorithms but can lead to errors.

The representativeness heuristic is a mental shortcut where people judge the probability of an event by how much it resembles what they consider to be a typical example.

The availability heuristic is a mental shortcut where people estimate the likelihood of an event based on how easily examples come to mind. Recent or vivid events are often more easily recalled.

Insight is a sudden and often novel realization of the solution to a problem. It often occurs unexpectedly and without a conscious effort to solve the problem.

Confirmation bias is the tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information that confirms one's preexisting beliefs, while ignoring or dismissing contradictory evidence.

Fixation is the inability to see a problem from a new perspective. It often involves being stuck in a particular way of thinking or approaching a problem.

Intuition is the ability to understand something immediately without the need for conscious reasoning. It is often based on experience and gut feelings.

Overconfidence is the tendency to overestimate the accuracy of one's beliefs, judgments, and abilities. It can lead to taking greater risks.

Belief perseverance is the tendency to cling to one's initial beliefs even after they have been discredited or proven wrong.

Framing refers to the way information is presented or structured, which can significantly affect decisions and judgments. Different presentations of the same information can lead to different interpretations.

A nudge is a subtle change in the environment or presentation of choices designed to influence behavior in a predictable way without restricting options or significantly changing economic incentives.

Creativity is the ability to produce novel and valuable ideas. It involves divergent thinking, which is the ability to generate multiple solutions to a problem.

Convergent thinking is the process of finding a single, correct solution to a problem. It involves logical reasoning and is often used in situations with well-defined solutions.

Divergent thinking is the ability to generate many different ideas or solutions to a problem. It involves thinking in a non-linear, spontaneous, and free-flowing manner, which is essential for creativity.