ThinkingThinkingThinkingThinking

Intro. To PsychologyIntro. To Psychology

ThinkingThinking

• “All the mental activities associated with processing , understanding and communicating information”.

• “All the mental activities associated with processing , understanding and communicating information”.

– Also called Cognition.– Cognitive Psychologists study mental

activities , including the logical and some illogical ways in which we create concepts, solve problems, make decisions, and form judgments.

– Also called Cognition.– Cognitive Psychologists study mental

activities , including the logical and some illogical ways in which we create concepts, solve problems, make decisions, and form judgments.

• Our thoughts may take forms, including Daydreaming, Problem solving, and Reasoning.

Units of Thought:• Images• Concepts• Language (symbols)Thinking often involves all three units.

• Our thoughts may take forms, including Daydreaming, Problem solving, and Reasoning.

Units of Thought:• Images• Concepts• Language (symbols)Thinking often involves all three units.

ImageImage

• “A mental representation that has picture like qualities; an icon”

• A mental image is significantly resembles the experience of perceiving some object, event, or scene, but that occurs when the relevant object, event, or scene is not actually present to the senses.

• “A mental representation that has picture like qualities; an icon”

• A mental image is significantly resembles the experience of perceiving some object, event, or scene, but that occurs when the relevant object, event, or scene is not actually present to the senses.

• Image formation is actually “Reverse Vision”

• Normal Vision: Information from Eyes→ brain’s primary visual area (Visual Cortex) → image creation

• Other brain areas help to recognize this image by relating it to stored knowledge.

• Image formation is actually “Reverse Vision”

• Normal Vision: Information from Eyes→ brain’s primary visual area (Visual Cortex) → image creation

• Other brain areas help to recognize this image by relating it to stored knowledge.

Reverse Vision Reverse Vision

• Information from Memory storage area → Visual cortex → image creation

• Less gifted person and children often use visual images to think

• Most people seem to have stronger visual imagery, some have auditory, whereas small number are strong in images of touch, taste, smell and muscle movement

• Information from Memory storage area → Visual cortex → image creation

• Less gifted person and children often use visual images to think

• Most people seem to have stronger visual imagery, some have auditory, whereas small number are strong in images of touch, taste, smell and muscle movement

• When we imagine about things they are not usually complete picture rather incomplete idea of certain features of an experience

• The incomplete images are constructed from the elements stored in LTM

• When we imagine about things they are not usually complete picture rather incomplete idea of certain features of an experience

• The incomplete images are constructed from the elements stored in LTM

ConceptConcept

• “A mental grouping of similar objects, events, ideas or people”.

• Without concepts we’ll need a different name for every object and idea.

• It enable us to organize complex phenomena into simpler and more usable form

• Animals are also capable of forming concept.

• “A mental grouping of similar objects, events, ideas or people”.

• Without concepts we’ll need a different name for every object and idea.

• It enable us to organize complex phenomena into simpler and more usable form

• Animals are also capable of forming concept.

Types of ConceptsTypes of Concepts

• Simple concepts are defined by the presence of a single property, feature or attribute as RED is the simple concept

• Conjunctive concepts are defined by the joint presence of two or more features of objects or events-having two or more features in common

• Disjunctive concept: A concept defined by the presence of at least one of several possible features.

• Simple concepts are defined by the presence of a single property, feature or attribute as RED is the simple concept

• Conjunctive concepts are defined by the joint presence of two or more features of objects or events-having two or more features in common

• Disjunctive concept: A concept defined by the presence of at least one of several possible features.

• Relationship concepts are formed on the basis of relationships among features e.g. foul ball in football

• Abstract concepts are the one that have no physical reality as love, hate, religion, and feelings

• A concrete concept is one that refers to something that can be pointed out. Blackboard, chair and glasses

• Formal concepts have clear rules e.g. male dog

• Relationship concepts are formed on the basis of relationships among features e.g. foul ball in football

• Abstract concepts are the one that have no physical reality as love, hate, religion, and feelings

• A concrete concept is one that refers to something that can be pointed out. Blackboard, chair and glasses

• Formal concepts have clear rules e.g. male dog

PrototypePrototype

• A mental image or best example of a category, matching new items to the prototype provides a quick and easy method for including items in a category

• E.g. comparing feathered creatures to a prototypical bird, such as a Sparrow.

• A mental image or best example of a category, matching new items to the prototype provides a quick and easy method for including items in a category

• E.g. comparing feathered creatures to a prototypical bird, such as a Sparrow.

MeaningMeaning

• Denotative Meaning: The exact ,dictionary definition of a word or concept; its objective meaning.

• Connotative Meaning: The subjective, personal, or emotional meaning of a word or concept.

• Denotative Meaning: The exact ,dictionary definition of a word or concept; its objective meaning.

• Connotative Meaning: The subjective, personal, or emotional meaning of a word or concept.

LanguageLanguage

• “Words or symbols, and rules for combing them, that are used for thinking and communication”.

– can be either written or spoken– Speaking and writing vocabulary are not exactly

the same and our speaking and writing grammar differ

• “Words or symbols, and rules for combing them, that are used for thinking and communication”.

– can be either written or spoken– Speaking and writing vocabulary are not exactly

the same and our speaking and writing grammar differ

• Rules for language are stored in LTM• So thinking is a kind of inner speech or

talking to yourself• According to this idea people make small

movements of the vocal apparatus during thinking

• Words are not necessary to think but it facilitate the solutions of the problems as direct manipulation of the object is difficult

• Rules for language are stored in LTM• So thinking is a kind of inner speech or

talking to yourself• According to this idea people make small

movements of the vocal apparatus during thinking

• Words are not necessary to think but it facilitate the solutions of the problems as direct manipulation of the object is difficult

Types of ThinkingTypes of Thinking

• Unrealistic/Autistic thinking

• Realistic Thinking

• Unrealistic/Autistic thinking

• Realistic Thinking

Types Of ThinkingTypes Of ThinkingTypes Of ThinkingTypes Of Thinking

Intro. To Psychology

PSY 201

Intro. To Psychology

PSY 201

Types of ThinkingTypes of Thinking

• Unrealistic/Autistic thinking

• Realistic Thinking

• Unrealistic/Autistic thinking

• Realistic Thinking

Unrealistic/Autistic thinkingUnrealistic/Autistic thinking

“Preoccupation with inner thoughts, daydreams, fantasies, subjective thinking lacking objectivity and connection with external reality”.

– Dreaming– Day dreaming

“Preoccupation with inner thoughts, daydreams, fantasies, subjective thinking lacking objectivity and connection with external reality”.

– Dreaming– Day dreaming

DreamingDreaming

• It is an abnormal phenomena of mind that does not occur in waking life

• According to Freud it is the royal road to unconscious

• Main features are– Disjointed/ disorganized/ lacking continuity– Admit impossibilities/ nonsense having no head and tail– No critical ability/ no means of testing its correctness

• It is an abnormal phenomena of mind that does not occur in waking life

• According to Freud it is the royal road to unconscious

• Main features are– Disjointed/ disorganized/ lacking continuity– Admit impossibilities/ nonsense having no head and tail– No critical ability/ no means of testing its correctness

• Show an accelerated flow of ideas, a shift in the depiction of scenes

• Wish fulfillment i.e., gratification of unfulfilled wishes/ disguise our desires

• Symbolic in nature

• Show an accelerated flow of ideas, a shift in the depiction of scenes

• Wish fulfillment i.e., gratification of unfulfilled wishes/ disguise our desires

• Symbolic in nature

Day DreamingDay Dreaming

• It is an altered state of mind / consciousness that occurs without effort and involve a brief escape from reality into fantasy

• Can occur anywhere any time• It source are fantasies that are construct while one

is awake• It is more controlled so it is closely related to

immediate event in the environment

• It is an altered state of mind / consciousness that occurs without effort and involve a brief escape from reality into fantasy

• Can occur anywhere any time• It source are fantasies that are construct while one

is awake• It is more controlled so it is closely related to

immediate event in the environment

• Normal part of waking consciousness

• But frequent day dreaming could lead to psychological difficulties as when one is unable to distinguish between fantasy and reality

• Normal part of waking consciousness

• But frequent day dreaming could lead to psychological difficulties as when one is unable to distinguish between fantasy and reality

Realistic ThinkingRealistic Thinking

• Also know as reasoning• Help us to adjust to real world• motivated to reach solutions to problems involving

individual livelihood• Three processes involve in reasoning

– Deductive– Inductive– Evaluative

• Also know as reasoning• Help us to adjust to real world• motivated to reach solutions to problems involving

individual livelihood• Three processes involve in reasoning

– Deductive– Inductive– Evaluative

Problem SolvingProblem Solving

• “Any goal directed activity that must overcome some type of barrier to accomplish the task”

• Involves development of some mode of responses to eliminate these barriers

• Depends on previous learning experience and higher mental processes

• May also lead to the development of new concepts

• “Any goal directed activity that must overcome some type of barrier to accomplish the task”

• Involves development of some mode of responses to eliminate these barriers

• Depends on previous learning experience and higher mental processes

• May also lead to the development of new concepts

Methods of P.SMethods of P.S

• Trial and error– It is the process of succeeding in an attempt by

repeating it after learning from failures– Problem is either so difficult to have any clue or

involves illogical relationships that cannot be discover by thought

– Overt trial and error; i.e. getting solution by visualizing it

• Trial and error– It is the process of succeeding in an attempt by

repeating it after learning from failures– Problem is either so difficult to have any clue or

involves illogical relationships that cannot be discover by thought

– Overt trial and error; i.e. getting solution by visualizing it

InsightInsight

– It is the sudden awareness of the relationship among various elements that had no connection before

– It is period of no apparent progress followed by sudden solution

– Psychologist do not know how insight operates but the know it is a useful approach to problem solving

– It is the sudden awareness of the relationship among various elements that had no connection before

– It is period of no apparent progress followed by sudden solution

– Psychologist do not know how insight operates but the know it is a useful approach to problem solving

Steps of P.SSteps of P.S

• Problem; one should show a concern to the problem i.e. identification of problem

• Data; assembling the material with which to work

• Hypothesis; driving a number of possible solutions. While dealing with the above mentions steps one may develop different hypotheses

• Problem; one should show a concern to the problem i.e. identification of problem

• Data; assembling the material with which to work

• Hypothesis; driving a number of possible solutions. While dealing with the above mentions steps one may develop different hypotheses

• Evaluation; evaluating the suggested solutions

• Verification; objectively testing and revising the solution

• Evaluation; evaluating the suggested solutions

• Verification; objectively testing and revising the solution