Cognition, Problem-Solving, and Decision-Making

## **I. COGNITION** **Cognition = thinking** — how we process information.

Includes: * **Perception** * **Knowledge** * **Problem-solving** * **Judgment**

* **Language** * **Memory** **Concepts** = categories or groups of information. * **Natural concepts**

— learned through experience (e.g., snow, dogs). * **Artificial concepts**

— defined by rules (e.g., shapes, math formulas). * **Prototypes**

— the “best example” of a concept (e.g., robin = typical bird). **Schemas** = mental

frameworks of related concepts. Types: * **Role schema** — expectations about

people in certain roles (librarian, teacher). * **Event schema (script)** — expected