Glossary C
Glossary C
Cognitive dissonance refers to tension that arises when one is simultaneously aware of two inconsistent cognitions.
Cognitive dissonance theory refers to a model proposed by Leon Festinger, which states that awareness of consonant cognitions makes humans feel good, whereas awareness of dissonant cognitions makes humans feel bad.
Deutsch: Kognitive Verzerrung / Español: Distorsión Cognitiva / Português: Distorção Cognitiva / Français: Distorsion Cognitive / Italiano: Distorsione Cognitiva
Cognitive distortions refer to systematic errors in reasoning, often stemming from early childhood errors in reasoning; an indication of inaccurate or ineffective information processing. Cognitive distortions also refer to the errors that depressed people make in the way they draw conclusions from their experiences.
These distortions often reinforce negative emotions and maladaptive behaviours, contributing to mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.
Cognitive economy refers to a principle of hierarchical semantic networks such that properties and facts about a node are stored at the highest level possible. For example, the fact "is alive” would be stored with the node for "animal” rather than stored with each node under animal, such as "dog,” "cat,” and the like; a characteristic of semantic memory in which information is only represented once within a semantic network.
Cognitive equilibrium refers to Piaget’s term for the state of affairs in which there is a balanced, or harmonious, relationship between one’s thought processes and the environment.
Deutsch: Kognitive Flexibilität / Español: Flexibilidad Cognitiva / Português: Flexibilidade Cognitiva / Français: Flexibilité Cognitive / Italiano: Flessibilità Cognitiva
Cognitive Flexibility in the context of psychology refers to the mental ability to switch between thinking about two different concepts, and to think about multiple concepts simultaneously. It's a crucial aspect of executive functions, which are a set of cognitive processes that manage, control, and regulate other cognitive processes. Cognitive flexibility enables individuals to adapt their thinking and behavior in response to changing environments, demands, and strategies. It is associated with resilience, problem-solving, and creativity, allowing people to effectively cope with new and unexpected situations, understand multiple perspectives, and integrate new information.