Thinking, Concepts & Creativity

Thought• Cognition—mental activities involved in

acquiring, retaining, and using knowledge• Thinking—manipulation of mental

representations to draw inferences and conclusions.

– Mental processes directed at a goal or purpose.– 2 kinds of mental representations:1. Mental image—representation of objects

or events that are not present2. Concepts – mental category we form to group objects,

events, or situations that share common characteristics or features.

Concepts• Concept—mental category we form to group

objects, events, or situations that share common characteristics or features.

Examples of Concepts• Formal concept— rigid rules or features that define a

particular concept. – All or nothing categorization process

• Categories for solid, liquid, or gas • A square is…

• Natural concept—Eleanor Rosch said these form from everyday experience and do not have boundaries that are sharply defined – Members of these share a kind of “family resemblance” that

helps us to recognize items that belong in the same category, even if they are not identical.

• Example: space shuttle & hot air balloon are both examples of the natural concept “aircraft”

Mental Image

• Mental Image – mental representation of an object or event not physically present.

• Mental imaging works similar to actual visual imaging.

• Mental images are constructed and therefore subject to error.

• Steven Kosslyn had people memorize a map of an island and then asked them to imagine specific areas.

• People took time to mentally scan their mental image and find the different locations.

• People took the same amount of time to mentally scan the image as they did to visually scan it.

Prototype• A model or mental image• A typical best example of a particular thing• The closer a new object is to our concept

prototype the easier it is to recognize it– If an object has four wheels and doors it probably fits

our prototype for…

Memory Shifts Towards Our Prototypes

• Once an item is placed in a category, our memory of it will shift to remember it as being more similar to our prototype.– If shown a face that has 70% Asian features, people will

later remember that face as being more prototypically Asian

Discrimination Prototypes• Picture this: A boss is “coming on” to an employee making

them feel uncomfortable at work.• Which one of the following did you picture?

• Concepts speed up and guide our thinking but are not always correct.

Creativity• Ability to create new and useful ideas• Convergent Thinking – narrowing problem solutions to the single best

solution - focused on finding a particular answer to a problem– IQ Tests test this.– You do this when you narrow options on a MC Test– Found in Left Parietal Lobe

• Divergent Thinking – Thinking Creatively to generate as many possible answers to a question or problem as you can. “Brainstorming”– How many uses can you think of for a brick?– Found in frontal lobes

Sternberg’s 5 Components of Creativity

• Expertise – a well-developed base of knowledge (mental building blocks) – gives you more to work with.

• Imaginative Thinking Skills – Allows you to see things in new ways, recognize patterns and make connections – explore in a new way.

• A Venturesome Personality – a risk taker that looks for new experiences and is willing to overcome obstacles

• Intrinsic Motivation – driven by more than external pressures – likes the challenge and satisfaction of difficult work and finding new ways to solve problems.

• A Creative Environment – Ability to work with others and an environment that sparks support and creative ideas.

Become more Creative!

• Develop Your Expertise – become an expert at something you enjoy!

• Allow Time For Incubation – Sleep on it!• Set Aside Time to Let Your Mind Roam Freely –

Get away from technology…RELAX!• Experience Other Cultures & Ways of Thinking –

Challenge yourself to find out how others think and solve problems. Get out of your comfort zone!

Be Creative!

• Choose the goal of creativity• Reinforce creative behavior• Engage in problem finding• Acquire relevant knowledge• Try different approaches• Exert effort and expect setbacks