Chapter 7

Question 1

Thinking (cognition)

Answer 1

Mental activity that goes on in the brain when a person is organizing and attempting to understand information and communicating information to others

Question 2

Mental images

Answer 2

Mental representations that stand for objects or events and have a picture-like quality

Question 3

Concepts

Answer 3

Ideas that represent a class or category of objects, events or activities (bird, fruit)

Question 4

Prototype

Answer 4

An example of a concept that closely matches the defining characteristics of the conceptl

Question 5

Problem solving

Answer 5

Process of cognition that occurs when a goal must be reached by thinking and behaving in certain ways

Question 6

Decision making

Answer 6

Identifying, evaluating and choosing among several alternatives

Question 7

Trial and error (mechanical solution)

Answer 7

One possible solution after another is tried until a successful one is found

Question 8

Algorithms

Answer 8

Very specific, step-by-step procedures for solving certain types of problems

Question 9

Heuristic

Answer 9

An educated guess based on prior experiences that help narrow down the possible solutions for a problem (rule of thumb)

Question 10

Representativeness heuristic

Answer 10

Assumption that any object (or person) sharing characteristics with the members of a particular category is also a member of that category

Question 11

Availability heuristic

Answer 11

Estimating the frequency or likelihood of an event based on how easy it is to recall relevant information from memory or how easy it is for us to think of related examples

Question 12

Functional fixedness

Answer 12

A block to problem solving that comes from thinking about objects in terms of only their typical functions (not considering other items as screwdriver)

Question 13

Mental set

Answer 13

The tendency for people to persist in using problem-solving patterns that have worked for them in the past

Question 14

Confirmation bias

Answer 14

The tendency to search for evidence that fits one’s beliefs while ignoring any evidence that does not it those beliefs

Question 15

Creativity

Answer 15

The process of solving problems by combining ideas or behavior in new ways

Question 16

Convergent thinking

Answer 16

Problem is seen as having only one answer, and all lines of thinking will eventually lead to that single answer, using previous knowledge and logic

Question 17

Divergent thinking

Answer 17

Person starts from one point and comes up with many different ideas or possibilities based on that point

Question 18

Intelligence

Answer 18

The ability to learn from one’s experiences, acquire knowledge, and use resources effectively in adapting to new situations or solving problems

Question 19

G factor

Answer 19

The ability to reason and solve problems, or general intelligence

Question 20

S factor

Answer 20

The ability to excel in certain areas, or specific intelligence

Question 21

Triarchic theory of intelligence

Answer 21

Steinbergs theory that there are three kinds of intelligence: analytical, creative and practical

Question 22

Intelligence quotient

Answer 22

A number representing a measure of intelligence, resulting from the division of one’s mental age by one’s chronological age and then multiplying that quotient by 100

Question 23

Reliability

Answer 23

The tendency of a test to produce the same scores again and again each time it is given to the same people

Question 24

Validity

Answer 24

The degree to which a test actually measures what it’s supposed to measure

Question 25

Deviation IQ score

Answer 25

A type of intelligence measure that assumes that IQ is normally distributed around a mean of 100 with a standard deviation of about 15

Question 26

Intellectual disability (intellectual development disorder)

Answer 26

Condition in which a person’s behavioral and cognitive skills exist at an earlier developmental stage than the skills of others who are the same age

Question 27

Emotional intelligence

Answer 27

Awareness of and ability to manage ones own and other’s emotions

Question 28

Heritability

Answer 28

Degree to which the changes in some trait within the population can be considered to be due to genetic influences; the extent to which individual genetic differences affect individual differences in observed behavior; In IQ, proportion of change In IQ within a population that is caused by hereditary factors

Question 29

Stereotype threat

Answer 29

Condition in which being made aware of a negative performance stereotype interferes with the performance of someone that considers himself part of that group

Question 30

Language

Answer 30

A system for combining symbols/words so that an unlimited number of meaningful statements can be made for the purpose of communicating with others

Question 31

Grammar

Answer 31

System of rules governing the structure and use of language

Question 32

Phonemes

Answer 32

Basic units of sounds in language

Question 33

Morphemes

Answer 33

Smallest units of meaning within a language

Question 34

Syntax

Answer 34

System of rules for combining words and phrases to form grammatically correct sentences

Question 35

Semantics

Answer 35

Rules for determining the meaning of words and sentences

Question 36

Pragmatics

Answer 36

Aspects of language involving the practical ways of communicating with others, or the social “niceties” of language

Question 37

Linguistic relativity hypothesis

Answer 37

The theory that thought processes and concepts are controlled by language

Question 38

Cognitive universalism

Answer 38

Theory that concepts are universal and influence the development of language