Psychology2016

Cognition: Thinking, Intelligence, and Language 277

to see them as eccentric. But the fact is that creative people are actually pretty normal.
According to Csikszentmihalyi (1997):

1. Creative people usually have a broad range of knowledge about a lot of subjects
   and are good at using mental imagery.


2. Creative people aren’t afraid to be different—they are more open to new experi-
   ences than many people, and they tend to have more vivid dreams and daydreams
   than others do.


3. Creative people value their independence.


4. Creative people are often unconventional in their work, but not otherwise.

Concept Map L.O. 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5

Interactive

Reset

as opposed to seeing

actual image (eyes

visual cortex

other cortical areas),

cortical areas associated

with stored knowledge

send info to visual cortex

vary according

to personal experience,

knowledge, and culture

trying one solution after another until one works

problem solving

and decision making

mental images are representations for

objects or events used in mental activities

mental images are interacted with in similar ways as

physical objects (e.g., scanning a map or rotating an object)

mental images are

processed in the brain

slightly differently

than actual objects

simple rules intended to apply to many situations

educated guesses based on prior experience

generally faster than algorithms but

will not always lead to correct solution

trial and error

algorithms

heuristics

“aha!” moments

when solution seems

to appear in a flash

usually based on reorganization of information

specific, step-by-step procedures

for solving certain problems

always result in correct solution if there is one

thinking and

behaving in certain

ways to reach a goal

can involve

different strategies,

logical methods

(convergent thinking)

insight

mental

imagery

are ideas that represent a class or

category of objects, events, or activities

are used to interact and

organize information without

having to think about or

process every specific

example of the category

are represented by

prototypes, best

examples of the

defining characteristics

are an important tool in problem solving

How People Think concepts

thinking (cognition) refers to mental activities

that occur in the brain when processing,

organizing, understanding, or communicating

information to others

less prone to common barriers

of problem solving

can be stimulated (see Table 7.1)

consists of new ways of

combining ideas or behavior

typically the result of divergent thinking

creativity

solutions to problems

are not always apparent

problems can be

caused by three

common barriers

problems with

problem solving

functional fixedness: only thinking

about objects in terms of their typical

uses

mental set: a tendency to persist in

using problem-solving patterns that

have worked in the past

confirmation bias: a tendency to

search for evidence that fits your

beliefs while ignoring evidence to the

contrary

A DJ performing before an audience.

What aspects of creativity apply to the

work of a DJ?