chapter 8 - thinking, reasoning and language Flashcards

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1
Q

thinking

A

any mental activity or processing of information
-learning, remembering, perceiving

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2
Q

cognitive misers

A

invests as little mental energy as possible unless neccesary to do again
-allows for cognitive economy

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3
Q

heuristics

A

mental shortcuts to increase our thinkning effciency

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4
Q

cognitive economy

A

allows us to simplify what we attend to and keep the infromation we need for decision making to a manageable minimum

-short cut (top down processing —> automatic)
-best use of thinking capacity

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5
Q

how is cognitive economy a mixed blessing

A

lead us to faulty conclusions
-occasionally be wildly wrong

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6
Q

cognitive biases

A

systematic error in thinking

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7
Q

representatitve heuristic

A

heuristic that involves judging the probability of an event on how prevalent that event has been in past expereince

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8
Q

avaliability heuristic

A

we estimate the likelihood of an occurence based on how easily it comes to our minds

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9
Q

hindsight bias

A

tendancy to overestimate how well we knew something, after its happened
-feel like we knew what it was before, only because we saw the answer

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10
Q

linguistic determinism

A

suggests we cannot expereince thought without language
-thought represented verbally
-not very strong argument

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11
Q

Top down processing

A

Using prior knowledge to influence responses
-build off of what we already know
-fast and efficient

-categories and schemas

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12
Q

Concepts

A

Where we make categories to sort

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13
Q

schema

A

Very quickly access information, by organizing like by like

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14
Q

Bottom up processing

A

Brain processes only information it receives, does not fill in the gap
-constructing meaning in that moment

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15
Q

Automaticity

A

Muscle memory, a feature of top down processing

-how to walk, don’t need to think to do it

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16
Q

Dechunking

A

Take the skill and break it into multiple parts

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17
Q

Extreme version of top down processing

A

Linguistic determinism

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18
Q

Linguistic relativity

A

Characteristics of language shape our through processes
-sapir whorf hypothesis

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19
Q

Sapir whorf hypothesis

A

Some domains are more influenced by language than others
-linguistic relatively

-interpretation more directed at language—> meaning—> relayed in words (crashed versus bumped)

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20
Q

Strop interference tasks

A

Automaticity can interfere with our ability to think about what is just in front of us, since it forces us into top down processing

-as you get better at reading, the worse you do in this test

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21
Q

Language and reading

A

Are highly practiced and become automatic
-because of prior knowledge

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22
Q

Strop effect wont happen

A

If you don’t understand the language
-don’t have top down processing or automaticity

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23
Q

Language influences

A

The way we think

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24
Q

Language

A

-serves as social and emotional
-textbook definition**

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25
Q

Why does language interfere with thinking

A

Has many structural features

-phonemes (sound)

-morphemes

-syntax

-extralinguistic information

26
Q

Phonemes

A

Sounds words/letters make

27
Q

Morphemes

A

smallest meaning behind words, S - more than one

28
Q

Syntax

A

rules for proper grammar, how we put words together, S always goes at end of word

29
Q

Extralinguistic information

A

Important for understanding meaning
-nonverbal
-context, tone of voice

30
Q

Properties of language

A

-generative
-arbitrary and symbolic
-specialized brain areas
-developmental stages

31
Q

ASL / sign language

A

Type of language developed to allow people to use visual rather than auditory communication
-arbitrary and symbolic (have no relationship to the word at all)
-babies pass through developmental stages while using language (language is not limited to verbal, it can be visual as well)

-similar properties as spoken language

32
Q

Bilingualism

A

Proficient and fluent in two languages

33
Q

Time sensitive period

A

More receptive in a certain age to learn different language
-bilingualism

-earlier exposed, better it is to learn (same brain regions of developmental stages)
-if older ages pick up language, different areas of the brain will be used

34
Q

Nativist view of language

A

People are born with some language knowledge
-language acquisition device in the brain

Problem: cannot be falsified, how do i prove or disprove this theory

35
Q

Pragmatic view of language

A

Infants understand a great deal of how other people are thinking, innate
-social environment, structure of language learning

Problem: how do we measure, or falsify this? *ethical

36
Q

General cognitive processing account of language

A

We have general skills that are applied across a variety of activities

Problem: use of language needs a specific processing skill, that differs from other thinking skills. Cannot be applied across all thinking properties, language is unique

37
Q

Heuristics

A

Mental shortcuts
-rule of thumb
-help categorize and understand all information we take in
-help make decisions and efficiency
-most of the time we are correct

38
Q

Representative heuristic

A

Judge something on the probability they are similar to a prototype
-assuming someone’s major

39
Q

Availability heuristic

A

Estimating the likelihood of the occurrence based on how easily to comes into the head
-what is in top of mind
-emotional

40
Q

Base rate information

A

Using probability to assume

41
Q

Confirmation bias

A

Tendency to seek out information we already believe in, and ignore information that goes against our belief

-only see from your POV
-referees calls in games

42
Q

System one thinking

A

Rapid and intuitive
-below consciousness/anything with automaticity/using heuristics

Eg- picking ice cream flavour

43
Q

System two thinking

A

Slow and analytical
-deliberate thinking/critical thinking

Eg- who to get married too, pros and cons list

44
Q

Is one system of thinking better than the other?

A

Depends
-does it require a lot of thought, or is it a matter of preference

45
Q

Paralysis by analysis

A

Over thinking so much (system 2 thinking is so hard) that you stop altogether

46
Q

Framing

A

Is a way a question is formulated that affects decision making

-80 percent success rate versus 20 percent failure rate

47
Q

Neuroeconomics

A

How the brain works while we’re making decisions
-biology behind decisions

-functional MRI to look at areas in brain while making decisions, like reward systems

48
Q

Problem solving

A

Generating a cognitive strategy to accomplish a specific goal

49
Q

Algorithms

A

Use a step by step solution to solve a problem

Problem: inflexible, need to follow stages in particular sequence

50
Q

Analogies

A

Solve within similar structures
-substitute oil for butter, applesauce for eggs

51
Q

Mental set

A

Requires you to generate alternatives that are outside of the box

52
Q

Functional fixedness

A

Not being able to view an object as anything other than the object
-hammer is a hammer

53
Q

How animals communicate

A

Verbal, vocal, visual

54
Q

Can we teach animals to learn language

A

Not very successful
-vocal apparatus is not as advanced as humans (limiting)

No learning process, no syntax

55
Q

Human communication vs animal communication

A

Human- generative, flexible, complex

Animal- non complex, non flexible

56
Q

Does complex language make it more effective

A

Mate call —> mate appears —> effective + needs met

57
Q

generative

A

language is flexible, use words in a variety of ways to express different things

58
Q

arbituary and symolic

A

words and ideas stand for things without physically representing it - dog is a dog, but the letters don’t LOOK like a dog

59
Q

specialized brain areas

A

specialized before born, until age of twenty five, very specific to comprehension and speech, shows that language is tied to thinking all of its interconnected

60
Q

devlopmental stages

A

babbling phase in young babies, which gradually resembles language they speak, all babies regardless of language experience this stage, predisposed