THOG problem

The THOG problem is one of cognitive psychologist Peter Wason's logic puzzles, constructed to show some of the weaknesses in human thinking.

You are shown four symbols

  1. a black square
  2. a white square
  3. a black circle
  4. a white circle

and told by the experimenter "I have picked one colour (black or white) and one shape (square or circle). A symbol that possesses exactly one, but not both, of the properties I have picked, is called a THOG. The black square is a THOG. For each of the other symbols, are they a) definitely a THOG, b) undecidable, or c) definitely not a THOG?"

Presented in this form, the task is quite difficult, because much information must be held in working memory at the same time.

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