language thought and communication Flashcards
piagets theory
thought before language
we learn schemas name after
piagets theory how do children develop language
by matching correct words to their existing knowledge of the world
concept comes first then learn to express their understanding
piagets theory in young children
can learn language without schema but won’t understand language
only understand when ready (stage of cognitive development)
development of language
begin to speak in sensorimotor stage (end of first year)
before 1 developing schemas as they coordinate sensory and motor info
they understand concept of language before they actually use it
pre operational stage rapid language progress
but still egocentric
logical thinking in children
concrete operational stage
mature and logical
decentre
new ideas and criticism
strength of piagets theory
early lang development not random
eg two word phrases ‘mummy sock’ sock owned by mummy
already some understanding of link between objects and ppl
connected words
start to use lang when right schemas developed
weakness of piagets theory
sapir whorf suggests opposite
language before thought
only see the world when lang available
raised in a culture where there is no word for something then cannot think about that particular thing
supported by cross cultural studies
piaget may have been wrong about relationship between language and thought
weakness of piagets theory
schemas cannot be scientifically measured
no way to determine if schema is developed
difficult to know they exist as we cannot ask children about them
no proof they exist
not based on solid scientific evidence
sapir whorf hypothesis
language affects how we perceive
two versions
weak version - language affects what we perceive and remember
strong version - language determine thought, unable to think for something we have no words for
thinking depends on language
words influence our memories and thought
strong version of sapir whorf
determines
if lang has no words then ppl who speak that lang will have no way of thinking about it
explains why it’s difficult to translate some words to another language
boas 1911
eskimo language 4 diff words for snow
whorf increased this to 7 implying there might be more
shows how lang and culture are linked
inuit able to think about and perceive snow in many ways unlike english
weak version sapir whorf
influences
but not completely determine
english speakers think abt snow without words for it
eg inuit had specific words for “soft snow on the ground”
english can still imagine without specific words
having words makes it easier
which version is better
both preferred weaker
info that is more easily described will be remembered more than one that isn’t
if words are limited then ability to recall concept are also limited
weakness of sapir whorf
evidence from boas may exaggerated differences in lang between cultures
pullum 1989
only two words for snow in inuit (ground and air)
english also diff words to describe snow eg slush sleet blizzard
language differences not great challenging conclusion
weakness of sapir whorf
just because culture has more words doesn’t mean language came first
did not consider why there are cultural differences
perhaps inuit reflects env
inuit experience will have led them to make finer distinctions
thinking came first driving the need for a wider range of words
language develops as we perceive env
strength of sapir whorf
explains link between intelligence and language
intelligence influenced by lang
working class use restricted code having negative ability to think
supports language influences thought
the hopi
timeless lang
no past present future distinction eg i left on the seventh day
no indication of time passing
influences way they think about time
language influences thought
evaluation of the hopi
only based on one individual
others argue their recalling of events are not that diff to english
lacks firm basis in fact
language affects recall of events
carmichael 1932
pictures shown
two groups read diff description
asked to draw from memory
drawings reflected labels heard
memory influenced by language (verbal label)
evaluation of carmichael’s study
in daily life we aren’t always interpreting ambiguous info
unambiguous less affected by labels
the zuni
brown and lenneberg 1954
basic colour absent from lang then affect how easily colour is recognised and recalled
zuni has one word for shades of yellow and orange
more difficult to recall
evaluation of zuni
may nota have fully understood task or misunderstood due to language barriers
lacks validity
aim of von frischs study
describe bee dances and explain how it allowed communication
method of frischs
observing bees in natural habitat
sometimes change aspects eg put food source close to hive and one further away up 300m (controlled observation)
6000 observations
results of frisch
two dance
round
food less than 100m away
in a circle
informs others food is nearby
waggle
figure of eight
straight section wiggle abdomen
direction of straight line indicates direction of pollen
slower further away
conclusion of frisch
sophisticated form of animal communication
speed and accuracy gives valuable info
helps survival
strength of frisch
important contribution to science
careful observation and objective recording
opened ppls eyes to capabilities of animals
nobel prize
weakness of frisch
important of sound overlooked
silent dances were not responded to
visual form of dance ,ay just part of a larger communication system
weakness of frisch
dance not always responded
would not use info from waggle dance to fly to pollen in middle of lake
instinctively know that food won’t be found there or may not like water
other factors affect response
function of animal communication
survival
reproduction
territory
food
animal communication survival
vocal signals
vervet monkeys communication danger with alarm call
visual signals
rabbits lift tail pin ears back and leap forward
enhances group and individual survival
animal communication reproduction
peacocks stretch out feather like umbrella to communicate genetic fitness
more likely to have healthy offspring
animal communication territory
rhinos leave dung to communicate territorial boundaries
better than fighting
more likely to be passed on
animal communication food
ants leave pheromone trail to communicate food source
properties of human communication not present in animal communication
plan future
creativity
single vs multiple channels
plan ahead and discuss future events
animals focused on present eg food source
creativity
humans have open system combining many words together
animals closed system using communication for specific events
cannot make new meaning whilst humans can create infinite no of sentences
single vs multiple channels
human lang expressed using multiple channels eg written spoken social media sign language etc
animals tend to communicate with single channel eg pheromones
eye contact
looking at each other’s eyes at the same time
function of eye contact
regulating flow of convo
signalling attraction
expressing emotion
regulating flow of convo
look away when abt to speak
prolonged gaze when abt to finish
listeners level of interest
if not then awkward pauses
signalling attraction
using eye contact judged as more attractive
evolutionary behaviour that signals attraction to a potential mate
expressing emotion
emotions more intense if faces looking straight at them
joy and anger most intense when direct gaze
fear and sadness most intense when averted gaze
strength of eye contact
help ppl to develop this skill
some may not use it effectively having a negative impact at work and relationships
social skills training can help ppl focus on using eye contact
practical help
weakness of eye contact
use of rating scales to make judgements
studies use of rating scales to make judgements about attractiveness and intensity are not objective measurements
rely on ppls opinion on attractiveness
open to bias
studies of ec not produce sufficiently objective evidence
weakness of eye contact
studies involve artificial tasks
kendon study asked to get to know someone as part of the experiment
artificial situation
not how ppl meet in real life
may affect ec observed
may have felt under pressure or embarrassed
lacks validity
body language
communication through unspoken movements and gestures
open posture
uncrossed
acceptance
closed posture
crossed arms or legs
disagreement
postural echo
copying body positions when getting on well in social situation
tanner and chartrand participants rated new drink more highly when presented with postural echo
produces positive feelings
touch
included high fives slapping etc
fisher librarian touching student on hand when returning books judged more positively
can be used to express friendship or dominance
strength of body language
real world application
eg in relationships
advice may be used with therapists to reassure patient
help ppl
weakness of body language
not all evs controlled
may be other reasons why confederates liked or disliked
eg in library study no attempt to control other nvc
results lack validity
weakness of body language
raise ethical issues
participants approached not aware of the experiment
deception
not given their permission in the first place
lack of informed consent
not certain if they were debriefed afterwards
affects trust they have in psychologists
challenges idea of conducting such research
personal space
distance we keep between ourselves and others
cultural differences in personal space
sorokowska 2017
9000 ppl questioned 42 countries
indicate on a drawing their preferred personal space
saudi arabia mean figure of 125cm strangers and 95cm friends
england 100cm strangers and 55cm friends
gender differences in personal space
men larger distance with other men than women to women
men sit opposite each other
women sit side to side
invaded personal space study fisher and byrne
in library.
women more uncomfortable when invaded from side
men more uncomfortable when invaded from front
status difference in personal space
zahn 1991 observed at work
equal status closer personal space
unequal status further distance
strength of personal space
help us know interactions in real life
understanding cultural and gender differences in personal space can help us to avoid offending
eg as a therapist to put ppl at ease
reduces misunderstandings
weakness of personal space
only look at one factor at a time
several factors may be affected eg differences in culture gender and status
personality and age
conclusions are over simplistic
weakness of personal space
unrepresentative sample
not possible to represent all ppl with culture or all men/women
may not apply to everyone
generalisation
evolutionary theory
genes that improve survival passed on
to reproduce you need to survive
adaptive traits and behaviours
why is nvc adaptive and evolved
nvc express emotions
eg baring teeth is adaptive as it reduces chance of death in conflict
human behaviour evolution
ancestors opening eyes widely more adaptive because they could see route to safety easier
passed down
helps ur express surprise
serviceable habits
behaviour of ancestors for survival
might not be used by humans for same purpose
eg baring teeth signal of aggression
humans now bare teeth when angry
strength of darwin’s evolutionary theory
supported by research into facial expressions
ekman et al 1972 6 primary emotions
surprise fear disgust anger happiness and sadness
emotions associated with same facial expression in every culture
universal
suggests its in our genes
strength of darwin’s evolutionary theory
supported by studies of new born babies
nvc present at birth
do not seem to have to learn to smile or eye contact
innate
have survival value and naturally selected
to encourage adults to care for baby
nvc is in our genes
weakness of darwin’s evolutionary theory
difficulty exposing cultural differences
if genetic then should be same in every culture
considerable differences in diff cultures especially in personal space
evolutionary theory cannot explain all nvc
evidence that nvc is innate
neonate research
displayed by newborns so innate
social releasers
certain neonate behaviour eg smiling makes others want to care
adaptive
facial expressions
neonates display disgust when given sour things eg citric acid so innate
lips curled and nose wrinkled
nvc is innate
sensory deprived
animal or human without sensory ability
thompson 1941 7weeks to 13 yr olds 11 blind from birth
compared with control group with vision
blind children show similar facial expressions to sighted children
nvc is learned
cross cultural studies
behaviour from diff culture show they are learned
eg contact vs non contact cultures
mediterranean and latin countries prefer smaller personal space
uk and usa prefer larger space
nvc product of cultural norms
nvc is learned
gestures
hand gestures interpreted differently in different culture
eg pointing forefinger can mean diff things like in hindu its offensive
explaining cultural differences
social learning theory
people learn by observing and imitating behaviour around them
especially ppl they identify with
yukis aim
to find out if there is a difference in interpretation of emoticons in japan and america
method of yukis study
6 emoticons with diff combinations of eyes and mouths
participants rated faces in terms of happiness express 9 point scale
cross cultural
95 japan 118 america
9 very happy 1 very sad
yukis results
japan
higher ratings to faces with happy eyes than american
particularly true when mouth was sad
america
higher ratings when mouths happy even when eyes sad
yukis conclusion
interpret facial expressions diff
japan more likely to focus on yes
america on mouth
due to culture norms and expectations
america bought up to express emotions more openly using eye and mouth
japan hide emotions so eyes are better way to tell emotions
weakness of yukis study
artificial
emoticons do not represent human faces
do not include tell tale lines on ppls faces which give us further info on how to interpret mouth or eyes
does not mean cultural differences generalise to interpreting real faces
may lack relevance to real life
weakness of yuki
investigated two types of emotion happy or sad
everyday life whole range of emotions eg fear surprise etc
japan focus on eyes for happiness or sadness does not mean it’s true for all emotions
no insight into full range of emotional expressions are interpreted
weakness of yuki
rating scale not best method of measurement
emotions are complex
rating scales simply way we understand emotions
judgements reduced to single number to represent emotion
reality we judge a persons expression in terms of a wide range of emotions
evidence of nvc as learned
gestures
same gesture interpreted differently in diff cultures
