Cognition, Thinking & Intelligence

THINKING is a mental activity that goes on in the brain when a person is organizing and attempting to understand information and communicating information to others.

CONCEPTS

PROBLEM SOLVING METHODS

• Trial and error – problem-solving method in which one possible solution after another is tried until a successful one is found.
• Algorithms - very specific, step-by-step procedures for solving certain types of problems.
• Heuristic - an educated guess based on prior experiences that helps narrow down the possible solutions for a problem. 
• Insight - sudden perception of a solution to a problem ("aha!" moment)

PROBLEM SOLVING BARRIERS

• Functional fixedness is a block to problem solving that comes from thinking about objects in terms of only their typical functions.

• Mental set is the tendency for people to persist in using problem-solving patterns that have worked for them in the past.
• Confirmation bias is the tendency to search for evidence that fits one’s beliefs while ignoring any evidence that does not fit those beliefs.

CREATIVITY

• Convergent thinking - type of thinking in which a problem is seen as having only one answer, and all lines of thinking will eventually lead to that single answer, using previous knowledge and logic
• Divergent thinking – type of thinking in which a person starts from one point and comes up with many different ideas or possibilities based on that point

INTELLIGENCE 

Theory of intelligence;

• Spearman’s Theory

1.          g factor – the ability to reason and solve problems, or general intelligence.
2.          s factor – the ability to excel in certain areas, or specific intelligence.

• Gardner’s Theory

Multiple intelligences - ranging from verbal, linguistic, and mathematical to interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligence.

• Sternberg's theory - Triarchic theory of intelligence

• Emotional intelligence – the awareness of and ability to manage one’s own emotions as well as the ability to be self-motivated, able to feel what others feel, and socially skilled. Viewed as a powerful influence on success in life.