PSYC 221 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Functional Fixedness, Verbal Arithmetic, Problem Solving

• School: Simon Fraser University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 221
• Professor: Caitlyn Mc Coleman

Document Summary

Lecture 12 problem solving: mental blocks, solving problems with analogical reasoning, solving problems with means-end analysis, creativity and insight, problem solving and sleep. Involves a series of stages and there"s no obvious answer. Ill defined problems are not clear: eg how an we slow down climate change, arithmetic problems are well defined, cryptarithmetic problem. Functional fixedness: candle problem, hints can lessen functional fixedness, stress can increase functional fixedness, two string problem, macgyver, negative set, water jug. Part 2 solving problems with analogical reasoning: good for ill defined problem, tumour problem. Simon - novel prize: good for ill defined problem, means-end analysis: setting a number of subgoals and reaching those subgoals in order to reach the end goal. Involves setting and reaching: good for well defined problem, tower of hanoi. Part 4 creativity and insight: creativity is domain specific. Incubation - can help to overcome mental blocks and good for ill defined problems.