Problem Solving and Creativity in Cognitive Psychology — Chapter 12 Summary from Cognitive Psychology

How do we solve problems, overcome obstacles, and generate creative solutions? Chapter 12 of Cognitive Psychology focuses on the mental processes behind problem solving, including heuristics, algorithms, and sudden insights. This chapter summary by Last Minute Lecture offers an academic yet accessible overview of how humans approach problems, from routine tasks to innovative breakthroughs.

Whether you're preparing for an exam or just curious about how creativity works in the brain, this chapter explains key psychological theories and strategies that influence how we identify, represent, and solve problems in everyday life.

Types of Problems: Well-Defined vs. Ill-Defined

Well-defined problems have clear goals and constraints (e.g., math problems), while ill-defined problems lack obvious solutions or boundaries (e.g., writing a novel). How a problem is mentally represented—called problem representation—affects the strategies we use to solve it.

Problem-Solving Strategies

• Algorithms – Logical, step-by-step procedures that guarantee a correct solution (e.g., long division).
• Heuristics – Simple rules or shortcuts, such as means-end analysis, which break problems into subgoals. These are faster but less reliable.

Barriers to Problem Solving

Two major obstacles in effective problem-solving include:

• Mental Set – Relying on solutions that worked in the past, even when they’re ineffective.
• Functional Fixedness – Failing to use objects in novel ways due to rigid thinking about their typical function.

Insight and Creativity

Not all problem-solving is gradual—some breakthroughs occur suddenly. Insight problem solving involves restructuring how a problem is viewed. Gestalt psychologists argued that insight arises when we shift perspectives. This ties to:

• Incubation Effect – Taking a break can allow unconscious thought to lead to insight.
• Fixation Forgetting – Letting go of failed strategies helps us discover new solutions.

Expertise and Analogical Reasoning

Expert problem solvers benefit from domain-specific memory, pattern recognition, and long-term working memory. They often rely on analogical reasoning—applying past solutions to new, similar problems. Experts also tend to use deeper conceptual frameworks instead of surface features.

Theoretical Approaches

• Behaviorist Approach – Emphasized trial-and-error learning.
• Gestalt Psychology – Emphasized insight and problem restructuring.
• Cognitive Models – Focus on mental representations and information processing, such as the General Problem Solver (GPS) model.

Social and Cognitive Influences

• Stereotype Threat – Awareness of negative stereotypes can impair performance on problem-solving tasks.
• Creative Problem-Solving Frameworks – Include stages like preparation, incubation, insight, and verification.

Glossary of Key Terms

• Problem Representation – How a problem is mentally structured and interpreted.
• Well-Defined vs. Ill-Defined Problems – Clarity of goals and constraints.
• Algorithms – Guaranteed procedures for solving problems.
• Heuristics – Simplified rules or strategies that often—but not always—lead to solutions.
• Means-End Analysis – Breaking a problem into subgoals to reduce the gap between current and goal states.
• Mental Set – Cognitive rigidity in using past solutions.
• Functional Fixedness – Failure to see alternative uses for familiar objects.
• Insight – Sudden realization of a solution.
• Incubation Effect – Benefit of taking breaks in problem-solving.
• Analogical Reasoning – Solving a problem by mapping knowledge from a similar situation.
• Stereotype Threat – Anxiety from negative group expectations impacting performance.
• Expertise in Problem Solving – Enhanced abilities from experience and domain knowledge.
• Creativity – The ability to generate original and useful ideas.
• Divergent Thinking – Generating many possible solutions.
• Convergent Thinking – Narrowing down to the best solution.
• Gestalt Approach – Focus on insight and restructuring in problem solving.
• Cognitive Neuroscience of Insight – Brain research linking insight to right hemisphere activity.
• General Problem Solver (GPS) – A computational model simulating human problem-solving through subgoal creation.
• Fixation Forgetting – Letting go of ineffective strategies to find solutions.
• Creative Problem-Solving Frameworks – Models detailing the stages of creative insight.

Why It Matters

Problem-solving is at the heart of everything from daily tasks to scientific innovation. Chapter 12 of Cognitive Psychology provides vital insights into how we tackle challenges, generate ideas, and overcome mental roadblocks. For students, educators, and researchers, this material is essential for understanding creativity, intelligence, and adaptive thinking.

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