or semiology, is the study of signs, symbols, and signification. It is the study of how meaning is created, not what it is. Below are some brief definitions of semiotic terms, beginning with the smallest unit of meaning and proceeding towards the larger and more complex:
an acoustic image (the ‘signifiant’, or signifier); literal meaning ex. red apple
A concept (the ‘signifié’, or signified) abstract meaning ex. forbidden fruit and lust
a clear representation of the object itself, keeping its characteristics. There’s no distinction between the icon and the real object. Examples are: photos, drawings, imitations, onomatopoeias and others.
A cognitive bias where decision making is affected by a lack of information, or “ambiguity”. The effect implies that people tend to select options for which the probability of a favorable outcome is known, over an option for which the probability of a favorable outcome is unknown.
The Anchoring Heuristic, also know as ‘focalism’, refers to the human tendency to accept and rely on, the first piece of information received before making a decision. That first piece of information is the anchor and sets the tone for everything that follows.
The denomination effect is a theoretical form of cognitive bias relating to currency, whereby people are less likely to spend larger bills than their equivalent value in smaller bills. In an experiment university students were given a dollar, either in quarters or as a single dollar bill. The students were then given the option to …
A cognitive bias in which people value things that they can get NOW more than things of greater value they might get in the future. This is because at a deep emotional level, driven by the limbic system, we seek immediate gain to give us instant gratification. Rational evaluation of longer-term gains on the other …