Computer metaphor
The idea that the brain is an information-processing organ that operates, in some ways, like a computer
Intelligence
The mental capacity to acquire knowledge, reason, and solve problems effectively
Concepts
Mental representations of categories of items or ideas, based on experience
Natural concepts
Mental representations of objects and events drawn from our direct experience
Prototype
An ideal or most representative example of a conceptual category
Artificial concepts
Concepts defined by rules, such as word definitions and mathematical formulas
Concept hierarchies
Levels of concepts, from most general to most specific, in which a more general level includes more specific concepts - as the concept of "animal" includes "dog," "giraffe," and "butterfly
Event-related potentials
Brain waves shown on the EEG in response to stimulation
Schema
A knowledge cluster or general conceptual framework that provides expectations about topics, events, objects, people, and situations in one's life
Script
A cluster of knowledge about sequences of events and actions expected to occur in particular settings
Algorithms
Problem-solving procedures or formulas that guarantee a correct outcome, if correctly applied
Heuristics
Cognitive strategies or "rules of thumb" used as shortcuts to solve complex mental tasks. Unlike algorithms, heuristics do not guarantee a correct solution
Mental set
The tendency to respond to a new problem in the manner used for a previous problem
Functional fixedness
The inability to perceive a new use for an object associated with a different purpose; a form of mental set
Hindsight bias
The tendency, after learning about an event, to "second guess" or believe that one could have predicted the event in advance
Anchoring bias
A faulty heuristic caused by basing (anchoring) an estimate on a completely unrelated quantity
Representativeness bias
A faulty heuristic strategy based on the presumption that, once people or events are categorized, they share all the features of other members in that category
Availability bias
A faulty heuristic strategy that estimates probabilities based on information that can be recalled (made available) from personal experience
Creativity
A mental process that produces novel responses that contribute to the solutions of problems
Aptitudes
Innate potentialities (as contrasted with abilities acquired by learning)
Mental age (MA)
The average age at which normal (average) individuals achieve a particular sore
Chronological age (CA)
The number of years since the individual's birth
Intelligence quotient (IQ)
A numerical score on an intelligence test, originally computed by dividing the person's mental age by chronological age and multiplying by 100
Normal distribution or normal curve
A bell-shaped curve, describing the spread of a characteristic throughout the population
Normal range
Scores falling near the middle of a normal distribution
Mental retardation
Often conceived as representing the lower 2% of the IQ range, commencing about 30 points below average (below about 70 points). More sophisticated definitions also take into account an individual's level of social functioning and other abilities
Giftedness
Often conceived as representing the upper 2% of the IQ range, commencing about 30 points above average (at about 130 IQ points)
Savant syndrome
Found in individuals having a remarkable talent (such as the ability to determine the day of the week for any given date) even though they are mentally slow in other domains
g factor
A general ability, proposed by Spearman as the main factor underlying all intelligent mental activity
Crystallized intelligence
The knowledge a person has acquired, plus the ability to access that knowledge
Fluid intelligence
The ability to see complex relationships and solve problems
Practical intelligence
According to Sternberg, the ability to cope with the environment; sometimes called "street smarts
Analytical intelligence
According to Sternberg, the ability measured by most IQ tests; includes the ability to analyze problems and find correct answers
Creative intelligence
According to Sternberg, the form of intelligence that helps people see new relationships amount concepts; involves insight and creativity
Triarchic theory
The term for Sternberg's theory of intelligence; so called because it combines three main forms of intelligence
Multiple intelligence
A term used to refer to Gardner's theory, which proposes that there are seven (or more) forms of intelligence
Self-fulfilling prophecy
Observations or behaviors that result primarily from expectations
Heritability
The amount of that trait variation within a group, raised under the same conditions, that can be attributed to genetic differences. Heritability tells us nothing about between-group differences
Eugenics
A philosophy and a political movement that encouraged biologically superior people to interbreed and sought to discourage biologically inferior people from having offspring
Experts
Individuals who possess well-organized funds of knowledge, including the effective problem-solving strategies, in a field