Chapter 8: Language and thought(2)

Question 1

What is the nativist theory for learning language?

Answer 1

Nativist theory proposes that humans
are equipped with a language acquisition device (LAD)—an innate mechanism or process that facilitates the learning of language.

According to this view, humans learn language for the same reason that birds learn to fly—because they’re biologically
equipped for it

Question 2

What is the interactional theory to explain learning language?

Answer 2

These theories assert that biology and
experience both make important contributions to the development of language.

Question 3

What is linguistic relativity?

Answer 3

Linguistic relativity is the hypothesis that one’s language determines the nature
of one’s thoughts.

Whorf speculated that different languages lead people to view the world differently.

Question 4

Define problem solving.

Answer 4

Problem-solving refers to active efforts to discover what must be done to achieve a goal that is not readily attainable.

Question 5

What are the 3 classes problems can be classified into?

Answer 5

1. Problems of inducing structure.
2. Problems of arrangement
3. Problems of transformation

Question 6

What are problems of inducing structure?

Answer 6

Problems of inducing structure require people to discover the relationships among numbers, words, symbols, or ideas: the series completion problems and the analogy problems are examples.

Question 7

What are the problems of arrangement?

Answer 7

Problems of arrangement require people to arrange the parts of a problem in a way that satisfies some criterion.

ex: The string problem and the anagrams

Question 8

Arrangement problems are solved with a burst of ________.(+define)

Answer 8

Arrangement problems are solved with a burst of insight.

Insight is the sudden discovery of the
correct solution following incorrect attempts based primarily on trial and error.

Question 9

What are the problems of transformation?

Answer 9

Problems of transformation require people to carry out a sequence of transformations to reach a specific goal.

ex: The hobbits and orcs problem and
the water jar problem

Question 10

What is the first barrier to effective problem-solving?

Answer 10

Irrelevant information.

Question 11

What is another barrier to effective problem solving proposed by gestalt psychologists?

Answer 11

Functional fixedness—the tendency to perceive an item only in terms of its most common use.

Question 12

Define a mental set.

Answer 12

A mental set exists when people persist in using problem-solving strategies that have worked in the past.

(ex: chess)

Question 13

What is an example of unnecessary constraints?

Answer 13

Without lifting your pencil from the paper, try to draw four straight lines that will cross through all nine dots. Most people will not draw lines outside the imaginary boundary that surrounds the dots.

Question 14

What does the special process view suggest?

Answer 14

The special process view asserts that insights arise from sudden restructurings of problems that occur at an unconscious level.

Question 15

What is the business-as-usual view?

Answer 15

The business-as-usual view asserts that insights arise from normal, step-by-step, analytical thinking that occurs at a conscious level.

Question 16

What is the trial and error strategy?

Answer 16

Trial and error involves trying possible solutions and discarding those that are in error until one works

Question 17

Because trial and error is inefficient, people often use shortcuts called ______ in problem-solving.

Answer 17

A heuristic is a guiding principle or
“rule of thumb” is used in solving problems or making decisions.

Helpful heuristics in problem-solving include forming subgoals, searching for analogies, and changing the representation of the problem.

Question 18

What are sub-goals?

Answer 18

Finding and solving the intermediate steps toward a solution.

(ex: tower of Hanoi problem)

Question 19

How can searching for analogies be considered a heuristic for problem-solving?

Answer 19

If you can spot an analogy between problems, you may be able to use the solution to a previous problem to solve a
current one.

Question 20

What is the incubation effect?

Answer 20

An incubation effect occurs when new solutions surface for a previously unsolved problem after a period of not consciously thinking about the problem.