Chapter 7 - Cognition Flashcards
What is a “concept” in terms of thinking?
An abstract idea
or a mental category
by which similarities are grouped.
What are the 4 forms of productive thinking?
1) concept formation
2) problem-solving
3) decision-making
4) creative thinking
What is a prototype in terms of concept formation?
A prototype is usually the concept member that has the most features
in common with other concept members
and shares the fewest features with other concepts.
What is Rational Problem-solving?
It involves solving a problem in a systematic manner by 1st clarifying and understanding the problem setting objectives identifying alternatives analysing the alternatives selecting the best alternatives implementing them and then reflecting back
What are the 4 problem-solving strategies?
1) Trial-and-error (time consuming)
2) Algorithms (will produce solution sooner or later)
3) Heuristic (previously used solution)
4) Analogy (solution to an earlier problem)
What are the 2 barriers to Problem-solving?
Mental set - fixed way of thinking eg. certain jobs can only be done by men
Functional fixedness - not able to think out of the box eg. If cell manufacturers only believed cells are for calls we would not be able to use it as cameras.
Heuristics are previously used solutions to problems that worked. There are 3 different heuristics that can influence decision making. What are they?
1) Anchoring and Adjustment - these involve making an estimate
Eg. manager might rely on his own experience to handle conflict but as he gains more info he may adjust his handling
2) Availability - estimate frequency or probability
Eg. Which insurance to choose - possibly pick one with most aggressive advertising
3) Representative - based on how much 1 event resembles another.
Using Heuristics has its limitations. Name 5 typical errors which may result from their use.
1) OVER-RELIANCE the achor
2) OVERESTIMATING the improbable
3) CONFIRMATION bias - ignoring info questioning decision
4) FRAMING not viewing from diff angles
5) ESCALATION of commitment - holding on to bad decision
What is Volition?
Use of willpower
What can Volition act as?
An executive control over the making of a decision
What is another word for Cognitive Control?
Volition
There are 3 constraining factors depleting mental resources and limit cognitive control when economic decisions are made. What are they?
1) Scarcity - when item is scarce (money) it is focussed on causing stress and anxiety
2) Temptation - ongoing demand depletes cognitive control
3) Difficult trade-offs
Impulse control is associated with?
Emotional intelligence
What is creativity?
The ability to produce work that is novel (original, unusual and unexpected) and appropriate (useful)
Guilford developed a measure of creativity based on the distinction of 2 thinkings. What are they?
CONVERGENT thinking - applies existing knowledge, logic
DIVERGENT thinking - moves outward from conventional thinking into unexplored paths
What are the 5 characteristics of creative people?
1) creative people can access both primary processes (eg dreaming) and secondary processes (eg logic thinking).
2) creative people can pay attention to more things at the same time
3) creative people are better at making lateral associations
4) creative people show different physiological reactions
5) seems to have right-hemisphere dominance
What are the 4 steps in the creative process?
Preparation
Incubation
Inspiration / illumination
Verification / elaboration
Damage to which part of the brain is related to impairment of language and speech?
Broca area - frontal cortex
as well as
Wernicke’s area - temporal cortex
Language is leaned through?
Reinforcement
What is Syntax in relation to psycholinguistics?
Rules governing the combination of words into sentences
In terms of psycholinguistics what is Semamtics?
Meaning of words and sentences
Meaningful conversation contains what 4 aspects?
Quantity
Quality
Manner
Relation (relevance)
What are the 3 stages of memory?
Sensory memory - few seconds
Short term / working memory
Long-term memory
What is an additional component of the working memory?
It serves as the CENTRAL EXECUTIVE, involves dividing one’s attention
What is meant by encoding in terms of the working memory?
It refers to the different ways in which the information is held by the brain
What determines how long info stays in the long term memory?
The ways in which the information was encoded.
There are 2 types of long-term memory. What are they?
Declarative - conscious recollections
Implicit memory - past experiences that influence behaviour which one cannot consciously remember eg riding a bicycle
Declarative memory is further divided into 2 separates. What are they?
EPISODIC memory - personal experiences
SEMANTIC memory - knowledge not related to personal experience
What is prospective memory?
Ability to remember things in future eg. meetings
Name 6 ways to improve memory.
1) Elaborative rehearsal
2) Practicing retrieval
3) Mnemonics
4) Organising
5) Mood state
6) Humour and exaggeration
How is IQ measured in children?
IQ = mental age / chronological age X 100
Binet and Simon devised the first test of general ability for children by?
Testing judgement by incorporating abstract reasoning ability rather than sensory skills
What does it mean when itelligence is malleable?
It can be improved
Extraordinary achievement has been found to be related to:
Determination
Intensive training
Hard work
What does the Drudge Theory explain?
It explains exceptional achievement according to serious determination, hard work and tedious practise and training
Studies of intelligence are grouped into 2 approaches. What are they?
Structural approach - quantity of intelligence
Dynamic approach - quality of intelligence
The structural approach to intelligence is divided in a 2 factor model. Explain.
Factor analysis - general intelligence (g) and specialised intelligence (s)
g - whether person can be called intelligent
s - primary source of individual intelligence
Thurstone saw intelligence as having the following 7 abilities:
1) spatial visualisation
2) numerical ability
3) perceptual speed
4) verbal comprehension
5) word fluency
6) memory
7) reasoning
What is fluid intelligence?
The ability to combine concepts by abstract reasoning and flexible thinking
What does Crystallised Intelligence refer to?
Knowledge sets that have accumulated as a result of fluid intelligence
Guilford’s theory on the structure of intellect SI were organised into 3 dimensions namely?
Operations (incl memory)
Content (visual ect)
Products (outcomes)
Lev Vygotsky was most influential in the Dynamic Approach to intelligence. He maintained that intelligence develops through?
Social mediation
What is EI?
Emotional Intelligence which refers to the ability to manage one’s emotional and interpersonal relationships
Sternberg introduced the concept of successful intelligence as a manifestation of 3 types of intelligence. What are they?
ANALYTICAL intelligence
CREATIVE intelligence
PRACTICAL intelligence
What is interpersonal intelligence?
The ability to understand the feelings and intentions of others
What is intrapersonal intelligence?
The ability to understand oneself
Explain Spatial intelligence.
The ability to perceive visual info and manipulate shapes and objects
What is Logical Mathematical Intelligence?
The ability to reason abstractly and manipulate numbers
Explain Linguistic intelligence.
Ability to learn and use language
What is bodily-kinaesthetic intelligence?
Ability to control eye-hand coordination, muscle movement and body position
What is musical intelligence?
The ability to identify and manipulate sounds, rhythms, tempo and pitch
What is naturalistic intelligence?
The ability to understand
the usefulness
as well as
dangers of the animals and plant worlds
What is the”idiot-savant” syndrome?
Someone with low intelligence but exceptional skills in a particular ability
normally art, music or mathematics
What is metacognition?
The ability to control or monitor one’s own thoughts.