What is cognition?
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Master key terms, definitions, and theorists to understand the basics of thinking, reasoning, and decision-making in psychology.
By mastering this deck, you'll develop a solid understanding of core cognitive concepts, enabling you to analyze how humans process information, make decisions, and solve problems—skills valuable for academic, clinical, and everyday contexts.
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| # | Front | Back | Hint |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | What is cognition? | Cognition refers to the mental processes involved in acquiring, processing, storing, and using information, including perception, attention, memory, reasoning, and problem-solving. | Think of cognition as the mind's toolbox. |
| 2 | Who proposed the Information Processing Model of cognition? | The Information Processing Model was developed by Atkinson and Shiffrin, conceptualizing cognition as a series of stages including sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory. | Model likened to a computer's data flow. |
| 3 | Define 'heuristic' in decision-making. | A heuristic is a mental shortcut or rule of thumb used to make quick decisions or solve problems efficiently, often at the expense of accuracy. | Think of heuristics as mental shortcuts. |
| 4 | What is the difference between reasoning and problem-solving? | Reasoning is the mental process of drawing conclusions from premises, while problem-solving involves identifying and implementing steps to reach a goal or solution. | Reasoning is 'thinking through,' problem-solving is 'acting to fix.' |
| 5 | Name the three main types of reasoning. | Deductive reasoning, inductive reasoning, and abductive reasoning. | Think of deduction as general to specific, induction as specific to general, and abduction as inference to the best explanation. |
| 6 | What is working memory? | Working memory is a limited-capacity system that temporarily holds and manipulates information needed for complex cognitive tasks such as learning, reasoning, and comprehension. | Active 'scratch pad' of the mind. |
| 7 | Who is associated with the concept of 'cognitive load'? | John Sweller introduced the concept of cognitive load, referring to the mental effort required to process information in working memory. | Load = mental effort. |
| 8 | Define 'metacognition'. | Metacognition is awareness and understanding of one's own thought processes, often described as 'thinking about thinking.' | Meta means 'above' or 'beyond' in Greek. |
| 9 | What is the role of schemas in cognition? | Schemas are mental frameworks that help organize and interpret information based on prior knowledge and experience, guiding perception and understanding. | Schemas act like mental templates. |
| 10 | Explain the concept of cognitive bias. | A cognitive bias is a systematic error in thinking that affects decisions and judgments, often arising from heuristics or emotional influences. | Biases skew our perception of reality. |
| 11 | Name a common cognitive bias related to probability assessment. | Availability heuristic bias, where people judge the likelihood of events based on how easily examples come to mind. | Easier to recall = perceived more common. |
| 12 | What is the dual-process theory of cognition? | The dual-process theory posits there are two systems of thinking: System 1 (fast, automatic, intuitive) and System 2 (slow, effortful, analytical). | Think 'automatic vs. deliberate.' |
| 13 | Define 'confirmation bias'. | Confirmation bias is the tendency to favor information that confirms existing beliefs and ignore or discount evidence that contradicts them. | Seeking confirming evidence. |
| 14 | What is the purpose of mental shortcuts in cognition? | Mental shortcuts, or heuristics, reduce cognitive effort and enable quick decision-making, especially under time constraints or cognitive load. | Efficiency over accuracy sometimes. |
| 15 | Describe 'cognitive dissonance'. | Cognitive dissonance is the psychological discomfort experienced when holding conflicting beliefs or attitudes, often leading to attitude change to reduce discomfort. | Inconsistency causes discomfort. |
| 16 | What are the main stages in Piaget's theory of cognitive development? | Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operational, and Formal Operational stages. | Piaget's stages track cognitive growth from infancy to adolescence. |
| 17 | Define 'problem space' in problem-solving models. | Problem space encompasses all possible states, steps, and actions that can be taken to reach a solution in a problem-solving task. | The mental map of solving a problem. |
| 18 | What is insight in problem-solving? | Insight is a sudden realization or 'aha' moment when the solution to a problem becomes clear after a period of impasse. | A mental flash of clarity. |
| 19 | Name and describe the two types of memory involved in cognition. | Explicit (declarative) memory, which involves conscious recall of facts and events, and implicit (non-declarative) memory, which involves unconscious skills and habits. | Explicit = facts; Implicit = skills. |
| 20 | What does 'cognitive flexibility' refer to? | Cognitive flexibility is the ability to adapt one's thinking and behavior in response to changing goals or environmental stimuli. | Mental adaptability. |
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