The Psychology of Problem Solving: Ideas for the Human Age Yuichiro Anzai Price: ¥902 Psychology book exploring theories on problem-solving Chuko Shinsho Publisher: Chuo Koron Shinsha (March 23, 1985) Release Date: March 23, 1985 Language: Japanese Shinsho (Paperback): 258 pages ISBN-10: 4121007573 ISBN-13: 978-4121007575 The psychological functions that humans can freely control to achieve goals, and the characteristics based on them, have only become clear through cognitive psychology using the latest information processing approaches. This book, based on various experimental results regarding problem-solving systems, specifically examines how we function in dealing with the various situations, large and small, that we face in life, and considers the "ability to freely create goals" that only humans possess. Overview Having a goal you want to achieve and devising a means to achieve it. If we define "problem-solving" in this way, it could be said that human life is overflowing with problem-solving. The act of problem-solving, which we casually engage in every day. What is its essence? What is needed to cultivate the power of problem-solving? This book considers such things. You often see titles like "How to Achieve Success in 〇〇" in business books and how-to books, but will skills really improve just by reading them? What is needed to improve skills? This book aims to ask this question. You want to think, "There must be some kind of trick or secret, and I just don't know it!" but in the end, you just have to get your hands dirty and gain experience. The final argument is the same as, for example, the PDCA cycle. So, does that mean you don't need to read it if you know the PDCA cycle? I don't necessarily think so. Rather than being introduced as one method or methodology, "You should think hypothetically and reflect," it's better to be told "You should think hypothetically and reflect" based on human nature and mechanisms revealed through experiments. Understanding it as a principle, rather than a single technique, is an important difference. I feel that the process of tracing the evidence with the author leads to a higher level of understanding and absorption. This book is highly recommended because it progresses quite carefully in that regard.