Chapter 8 Flashcards
Concept
Mental representation of an object, event, or idea.
Categories
Clusters of interrelated concepts
Rule-based categorization
Categorizing objects or events according to rules or features
Prototype
Mental representation of an average category member
Exemplar
Specific or real examples that best represents a category
Semantic networks
Interconnected set of nodes/concepts. Joined by links to form a category.
Temporal lobe damage
Difficulty identifying objects, while still able to describe object features
Folk biology
How the natural world is conceptualized and categorized differently across cultures
Problem solving
Accomplishing a goal when the solution or the path to the solution is not clear
Algorithms
Problem-solving strategies based on series of rules (thinking logically)
Ex) wordle
Heuristics
Problem-solving strategies that use prior experiences to provide an educated guess about the most likely solution
Mental set
A cognitive obstacle that occurs when you try to solve a new type of problem using a routine, familiar (incorrect) solution
Availability heuristic
Estimating the frequency of an event based on how easily examples of it come to mind.
(if examples are readily available we assume it’s frequent)
Belief perseverance
Remaining committed to a decision or believe even when provided with evidence against it
Confirmation bias
Searching for (or only paying attention to) evidence that will confirm a belief instead of evidence that may disconfirm it
Aphasia
Language disorder caused by damage to the brain structures that support using and understanding language
Broca’s area
Region of the left frontal lobe that controls our ability to articulate speech sounds that compose words
Wernicke’s area
Area of the brain most associated with understanding words.(comprehension)
Language
Form of communication that involves the use of spoken, written, or Gesterol symbols that are combined in a rule-based form
Phonemes
Most basic units of speech sounds
Ex) t = “tuh” 
Morphemes
Smallest meaningful units of a language
Ex) mailbox –> ‘mail’ ‘box’
Semantics
Study of how people understand the meaning of words
Syntax
Rules for combining words and morphemes into meaningful phrases and sentences
(Nouns and verbs are the most basic units)
Pragmatics
Study of nonlinguistic elements of language use. Emphasizes the speakers behaviours and the social situation
