Chapter 8 -- Thinking, Intelligence, and Language Flashcards
What is cognition?
The way in which information is processed and manipulated in remembering, thinking, and knowing.
What is a language and what features make up a language?
A language is a system of symbols, sounds,
meanings, and rules of combination that
allows for communication among humans.
Phonemes: the smallest units of sound
Morphemes: the smallest units of meaning. Phrases are composed of morphemes
Sentences: strings of morphemes and
phrases that express a thought or intention
What is thinking?
The process of manipulating information mentally by forming concepts, solving problems, making decisions, and reflecting critically or creatively.
What are concepts and why are they important?
Mental categories that are used to group objects, events, and characteristics.
- Allows us to generalize
- We can associate experiences and objects
- Makes memory efficient
- Provide clues about how to react to things
What is the prototype model?
A model emphasizing that when people evaluate whether a given item reflects a certain concept they compare the item with the most typical item(s) in that category and look for a “family resemblance” with that item’s properties.
EX:
- “Name a fruit” – Apple
- “What colour is an apple?” –Red
What is problem solving?
The mental process of finding an appropriate way to attain a goal when the goal is not readily available.
What are the 4 steps in the problem solving process?
- How do you find and frame problems?
- How do you develop good problem solving strategies?
- How do you evaluate solutions?
- How do you rethink and redefine problems and solutions over time?
What are 3 problem solving strategies?
SUBGOALS: Intermediate goals/problems devised to put the individual in a better position for reaching the final goal or solution.
ALGORITHMS: Strategies—including formulas, instructions, and the testing of all possible solutions—that guarantee a solution to a problem.
HEURISTICS: Shortcut strategies or guidelines that suggest a solution to a problem but do not guarantee an answer.
How does fixation prevent us from solving problems?
Fixation: Using a prior strategy and failing to look at a problem from a fresh new perspective.
Functional fixedness occurs
- failing to solve a problem as a result of fixation on a thing’s usual functions.
What is inductive reasoning?
Reasoning from specific observations to make generalizations.
bottom-up processing
What is deductive reasoning?
Reasoning from a general principle that is known to be true to a specific instance.
- EX: “All Torontonians love the Leafs”
How is decision making different from reasoning?
Decision making involves evaluating alternatives and choosing among them while reasoning involves following established rules to reach a conclusion.
What is system 1 reasoning and decision making?
Autonomic, rapid, heuristic, associative and intuitive
What is system 2 reasoning and decision making?
Controlled, slower, effortful, analytical, conscious reflection
What is loss aversion?
Weighing potential losses over gains
