cognition and intelligence Flashcards
human brains are about how many times larger than that of closest primate relatives?
3x
what are some cognitive skills that humans possess that other primates dont?
language, symbolic mathematics, scientific reasoning
why do cognitive abilities evolve
in response to relatively specific environmental challenges
distinctive aspects of primate cognition evolved mainly in response to what?
challenging demands of a complex social life, constant competition, cooperation and negotiation
what is cognition?
includes all the mental processes used by humans to transform sensory input into knowledge
what can cognition in humans be and what can cognitive processes do?
cognition can be conscious or unconscious, concrete or abstract, intuitive or conceptual
cog processes used existing knowledge and generate new knowledge
what does intelligence encompass?
cognition
cognition is the method by which…
people assimilate and integrate knowledge
what are cognitive abilities?
brain based skills and mental processes needed to carry out any task and have more to do with the mechanisms of how you learn, remember, pay attention rather than any actual knowledge you have learnt
what is intelligence?
both the assimilation of knowledge as well as the ability to apply such knowledge (assimilation and application)
what is intelligence for?
- controls our behavior to ensure our survival
how does natural intelligence manifest?
in behavior
how do we understand intelligence?
understand our behavior and its underlying mechanisms
intelligence - some common sense notions
- thinking and problem solving
- learning and memory
- language
- intuition and creativity
- consciousness
- emotions
- surviving in a complex world
- perpetual and motor abilities
what is the role of the brain in cognitive development?
- learning involves changes in neurons and synapses
- developmental changes in the brain enable increasingly complex and efficient thought
- the brain remains adaptable throughout life
the link between culture and cognition
many scholars view culture itself as cognition
- culture is mental programming
- culture defined as norms, opinions, beliefs, values and worldviews, which are all cognitive products
- culture is a knowledge system
- cognitive skills allow humans to have culture
what sets the highly cognitive human mind apart from the ape mind?
symbolic behavior
humans could use a stick to as a sceptre to symbolise power whereas apes would use sticks just as a practical tool
what is a symbol?
often an ordinary object, event, person or animal to which we have attached extraordinary meaning and significance
some examples of human symbols
country - died cloth
skull and cross bones - danger
roses - love
how do we know if something is a symbol?
- repeat appearance
- wide distribution across a population
- seems to be connected with a specific event or belief
when did the symbolic explosion occur?
in europe c 35ka
intelligence and cognition evidence
- middle to upper paleolithic transition (55-35k)
- aurignacian (after 40kya)
- complex ornaments found
- evidence of burial rituals
- jewelry
- aurignac rockshelter, France
what is the earliest evidence of symbolism and modern behavior ?
- the middle stone age - Africa
- 280 - 30 ka
what is missing for personal ornaments to become relevant to the development of symbolism?
- individuals don’t only need to recognise group membership
- but also need to know that other individuals recognise the use of symbolic markers and an indication of group membership
- this task goes beyond simple social catergorisation
- one needs to understand to make sure that ones representation of group membership coincides with the representation of others
- one needs higher theory of mind to recognize that the meanings of symbols are shared
expand on the concept of neanderthal ceremonialism
- evidence from burials shows that neanderthals accommodated the sick and injured in life and treated the dead with honor and ritual
evidence for neanderthal burial rituals
- nearly complete skeleton in shallow grave at La Chapelle aux Saints (found 1908)
- Misshapen individual: acutely curved spine from osteoarthritis, thus being bent-over or hunched; old and highly degenerated
describe the individual that was found in la Chapelle aux Saints in 1908
Misshapen individual: acutely curved spine from osteoarthritis, thus being bent-over or hunched; old and highly degenerated
