Module 22Human Intuition - What are the limits?ConceptsStudent Project, PrototypesWhen our Prototypes don’t Match what we’re Experiencing, we could:Solving ProblemsSlide 7Slide 8Cognitive Complexity - how simple or complex a person’s system of cognitive constructs is.Cognitive Complexity - Refers to how simple or complex a person’s system of cognitive constructs is.Obstacles to Problem SolvingObstacles to Problem Solving - Confirmation BiasSlide 13Slide 14Slide 15Making Decisions and Forming JudgmentsSlide 17Overconfidence We have a tendency to overestimate the accuracy of our knowledge and judgmentsFraming Decisions The way an issue is presented can affect our decisionsThe Belief Perseverance PhenomenonModule 22Module 22ThinkingThinkingHuman Intuition - What are the limits?Human Intuition - What are the limits?A man bought a horse for A man bought a horse for $60 and sold it for $60 and sold it for $70.$70.Then he bought the same Then he bought the same horse back for $80 and horse back for $80 and again sold it for $90.again sold it for $90.How much money did he How much money did he make in the horse make in the horse business?business?ConceptsMental groupings of similar Mental groupings of similar objects, events, and peopleobjects, events, and peopleExample:Example:PlantsAnimalsPrototypesmental images that incorporate all the features we associate with a category, such as “trees” and “elephants.”Student Project, Prototypes Student Project, Prototypes1.1.Go to this web site:Go to this web site:2.2.http://coglab.psych.purdue.edu/coglab/prototypehttp://coglab.psych.purdue.edu/coglab/prototypes/PT.htmls/PT.html3.3.Try the experiment – move all the rings to Try the experiment – move all the rings to another stick without ever placing a large ring on another stick without ever placing a large ring on top of a smaller ring.top of a smaller ring.4.4.Look up information about the Tower of Hanoi.Look up information about the Tower of Hanoi.5.5.Write up the results of your experiments. Write up the results of your experiments. What does it reveal about What does it reveal about concepts and concepts and prototypesprototypes? How does this relate to ? How does this relate to psychology?psychology?When our Prototypes don’t Match what we’re Experiencing, we could:..overlook a serious ..overlook a serious illness because the illness because the symptoms do not symptoms do not match our prototype.match our prototype.Example: A woman Example: A woman having a heart attack having a heart attack does not necessarily does not necessarily have chest pains.have chest pains.Solving Problemsalgorithmalgorithm - - a methodical, logical rule or a methodical, logical rule or procedure that guarantees solving a procedure that guarantees solving a particular problemparticular problemSolving ProblemsSolving ProblemsHeuristic - Heuristic - a rule-of-thumb strategya rule-of-thumb strategyIt allows us to make judgments,It allows us to make judgments,decisions, and to solve problemsdecisions, and to solve problemsquickly, but it may havequickly, but it may haveerrors.errors.Solving ProblemsSolving Problemsinsightinsight - - a sudden flash of a sudden flash of inspiration or knowledgeinspiration or knowledgeCognitive Complexity - how simple or complex a person’s system of cognitive constructs is. Cognitive Complexity - how simple or complex a person’s system of cognitive constructs is.1.1.Think of a person you like and a person you Think of a person you like and a person you dislike.dislike.2.2.Spend ten minutes writing a description of those Spend ten minutes writing a description of those people - include their habits, beliefs, ways of people - include their habits, beliefs, ways of treating others, reliability, etc.treating others, reliability, etc.3.3.Now, count the number of constructs you have Now, count the number of constructs you have used for each to measure your cognitive used for each to measure your cognitive complexity.complexity.4.4.When you are done, go to the next slide.When you are done, go to the next slide.Cognitive Complexity - Refers to how simple or complex a person’s system of cognitive constructs is.Cognitive Complexity - Refers to how simple or complex a person’s system of cognitive constructs is.Research suggests a person with more Research suggests a person with more constructs:constructs:•is more persuasiveis more persuasive•can match their arguments to their audiencecan match their arguments to their audience•is better able to deal with ambiguityis better able to deal with ambiguity•is less anxious when confronted with the is less anxious when confronted with the unexpectedunexpectedObstacles to Problem SolvingConfirmation biasConfirmation biasWe seek We seek knowledge that knowledge that will confirm will confirm rather than rather than disprove our disprove our beliefs.beliefs.Imagine that you serve on the jury ofImagine that you serve on the jury ofan only-child sole custody case an only-child sole custody case following a relatively messy divorce. following a relatively messy divorce. The facts of the case are complicated The facts of the case are complicated by ambiguous economic, social, and by ambiguous economic, social, and emotional considerations, and you emotional considerations, and you decide to base your decision entirely decide to base your decision entirely on the following few observations. To on the following few observations. To which parent would you award sole which parent would you award sole custody of the child?custody of the child?Obstacles to Problem Solving - Confirmation BiasObstacles to Problem Solving - Confirmation BiasParent A - has an average income, Parent A - has an average income, average health, average working average health, average working hours, a reasonable rapport with the hours, a reasonable rapport with the child, and a relatively stable social child, and a relatively stable social life.life.Parent B - has an above-average income, Parent B - has an above-average income, minor health problems, lots of work minor health problems, lots of work related travel, a very close related travel, a very close relationship with the child, and an relationship with the child, and an extremely active social life.extremely active social life.Obstacles to Problem SolvingObstacles to Problem SolvingNow answer these questions:Now answer these questions:•To which parent would you grant