Lecture 2: Concepts Flashcards
Inference
The production of novel information from available information
Information
Phenomena from which other phenomena can be inferred
Representation
Information used for mental processes eg. Perception/cognition
External representations
Representations in the environment eg.images on your phone
Internal representations
Representations in the mind/brain eg. Mental imagery
The computational theory of mind
The mind is an information processing system that computes (transforms) representations from one state to another
Types of representations (Internal/external) (5-7)
- Imagistic representations
- Linguistic representations
- Symbolic representations
- Motor representations
- Perceptual representations which become
- Cognitive representations which become
- Motor representations
What type of representations are diagnoses?
Concepts
Concepts
Representation of a category
Category
Group of things that have something in common
What two cognitive processes are concepts primarily used for?
- Categorization
- Production of inferential knowledge
Why cognitive considered representations?
They are information used for cognitive processes
Categorization
A judgement about whether a specific thing is a member of a category eg. Is a beanbag a chair?
Internal concept
A mental representation of a category (in the mind/brain)
External concept
A linguistic description or graphical depiction of a category (in written/spoken language, pictures,drawings etc)
DSM-5
A collection of external concepts of mental disorders
What are some properties of human concepts? (6)
- Feature sets
- More typical category members
- Organized into hierarchies defined by patterns of inclusion
- Feature sets being represented in the mind/brain in a number of formats
- Vary from person to person
- Vary in same person over time
Feature sets
Set’s of the concept’s features eg. Ordinary concept of bird has a feature set including things like “flies”, “has wings”, “makes nests”, “lives in trees” etc.
Superordinate concepts
Those that include lower-order concepts eg. In concept “mammal” it includes concept “dog”
Subordinate concepts
Those that are included in higher-order concepts eg. Subordinate concept “dog” is included in concept “mammal” —> “bipolar disorder” is included in concept “mental disorder”
Essentialist representations
A concept’s feature set in represented as providing necessary and sufficient conditions for a given thing to be a member of a category eg. Gender
Exemplar representations
A concepts feature set is based on the features of one specific entity eg. Concept of “uncle” was based on one uncle
Prototype representations
A concept’s feature set is represented as a set of typical features, no one of which is necessary
How do prototype representations help explain why some members of a category seem to be more typical than others?
- Because some members have more features from the concepts feature set!
- Fewer liabilities than essentialist and exemplar representations
Intraconcept variability
Different conceptualizations of the same category
What problems can intraconcept variability lead to?
Interrater reliability
Interrater reliability
Agreement between 2 or more persons asked to assess the same thing
Constructs
Concepts that combine features of experience or inferences about experiences into a unitary representation
How can constructs be contrasted with concepts
They can be contrasted with concepts that are more directed linked to experience eg. “Pain” less of a construct than abuse
Properties of the DSM’s external concepts
- ARE CONSTRUCTS
- The constructs represent reality with varying levels of validity and utility
- Substantial disagreement about how to conceptualize DSM constructs
- Contain partially overlapping symptom sets
- Encourages categorical reasoning
Validity
Accuracy
Utility
Ease of use for purposes of categorization and inference
What do overlapping symptoms cause?
High rates of co-morbidity
Co-morbidity
Multiple diagnoses co-occurring in the same person
Categorical reasoning
Something is either a member of a category or not
What is categorical reasoning contrasted with?
Dimensional seasoning
What do advocates of dimensional reasoning in clinical research and practices argue?
- Human traits VARY along continuous dimensions defined by differences of degree
- Categorical boundaries are ARBITRARY - there’s a roughly even distribution or trait values along different dimensions
Dimension
Any set of elements that adopt values and enable comparisons of similarity and difference
Qualitative dimensions
Adopt nominal values eg. Color has values like red/blue
Quantitative dimensions
Adopt numerical values (eg. Length has values like 1 meter)
Advocates of categorical approaches counter-argue:
- Not enough data to decide if human traits vary along continuous dimensions/have an even distribution
- Traits can be continuous while others aren’t/have a roughly even distribution of traits values while others don’t
- Category = Greater clinical utility (easier to use)
- Insurance companies require diagnoses based on categorical reasoning to meet “medical necessity” and provide reimbursement
How are diagnostic concepts constructed in the DSM?
- Have symptom sets used as CRITERIA
- Are Polythetic
Criterion
A standard used to determine a judgement
Criterion for major depressive disorder (9)
- Low/irritable mood
- Anhedonia
- Insomnia/hypoerinsomnia
- Feelings of guilt/worthlessness
- Weight loss/gain
- Psychomotor agitation/slowing
- Fatigue
- Difficulty Concetrating
- Thoughts of death or suicide
Minimum criterion
Having 5 or more of the symptoms in the criterion
Duration criterion
Having the symptoms for at least 14 days/2 weeks
Core symptoms criterion
At least one of the symptoms must be present (eg. For depression: low mood OR Anhedonia)
Anhedonia
Loss of pleasure
Polythetic
Having many but not necessarily all things in common
What do Polythetic concepts result in?
Intradiagnostic heterogeneity
Intradiagnostic heterogeneity
Different people with the same diagnoses may have different symptom sets and could “present” differently when assessed eg. Some people with bipolar disorder are euphoric VS irritable
