Lecture 6 - Thinking and Intelligence

Question 1

Thinking

Answer 1

allows us to manipulate info internally to construct models if the world and regulate ourselves to meet goals

Question 2

Representations can take two forms

Answer 2

images and concepts

Question 3

mental images

Answer 3

representation of any sensory experience that is stored in memory and can be retrieved for use later

Question 4

concepts

Answer 4

a concept is an organizing principle derived from experience

Question 5

Theories of thoughts as concepts

Answer 5

feature detection model, prototype theory and examplar theory

Question 6

Feature Detection Model

Answer 6

people determine whether an object can fit into a concept by considering overlapping features (dogs are furry with tails, birds have wings and fly)

Question 7

Prototype Theory

Answer 7

a representation of a category formed by averaging all members of the category (prototypical dog has an average size, average colour etc.)

Question 8

Problem with Feature Detection Model

Answer 8

there are always exceptions

Question 9

Exemplar Theory

Answer 9

an exemplar is a specific member of a category used to represent the category (fruit - apple, planet - earth)

Question 10

Concepts as theories

Answer 10

concept formation can be theory building as concepts do not exist in isolation put part of a vast interconnected of memories

Question 11

Concepts as schemas

Answer 11

concepts are embedded in schemas (set of expectations about objects and situations)

Question 12

concepts and the brain

Answer 12

different patterns of brain activity are identified when people think about different topics

Question 13

problem

Answer 13

exists when there is an obstacle or a difference between where you are now and where you would like to be

Question 14

well-defined problem

Answer 14

have clear initial state, goal state, a defined set of operators and a limited number of solutions

Question 15

ill-defined problem

Answer 15

no clear initial state, no specified goal states of defined set of operatores and a large number of unpredictable solutions

Question 16

four steps of problem solving

Answer 16

1. understand the problem
2. make a plan
3. carry out the plan
4. look back

Question 17

step 1. understand the problem

Answer 17

involves representing or framing the problem in a useful way

Question 18

suggestions for step 1. understanding the problem

Answer 18

• big or long-term goals should be broken into intermediate goals
• personal bias interferes with good problem solving
• functional fixedness: person’s tendency to think about a concept in its most typical form and not others (string problem)
• brooding: judgemental process in which we compare our current situation with an ideal situation

Question 19

step 2. make a plan

Answer 19

involves generating possible solutions and then choosing the best to implement

Question 20

you generate solutions (step 2) through

Answer 20

algorithms and heuristics

Question 21

algorithms

Answer 21

precise, step-by-step rules that will reliably generate a solution to a problem (takes a while)

Question 22

heuristics

Answer 22

rules of thumb that help constrain the problem in certain ways but they do not guarantee that you will find a solution

Question 23

types of heuristics that are faulty

Answer 23

recognition, availability, representative and affect heuristic

Question 24

recognition heuristic

Answer 24

rule of thumb in which a higher value is placed on the more easily recongised alternative

Question 25

availability heuristic

Answer 25

rule of thumb in which the frequency of an event's occurence is predicted by the ease with which the event is brought to mind

Question 26

representative heuristic

Answer 26

rule of thumb in which stimuli similar to a prototype are believed to be more likely than stimuli dissimilar to prototype

Question 27

affect heuristic

Answer 27

rule of thumb in which we choose between alternatives based on emotional gut reactions to stimuli

Question 28

critical thinking skills

Answer 28

not thinking of decisions as right or wrong, being influenced by others, doing something because it is always done that way

Question 29

suggestions while making decisions

Answer 29

understand probability, encourage dissenting opinions from others, accurate assessmetn of own knowledge, do not rush

Question 30

language

Answer 30

system for communicating thoughts and feelings using arbitrary signals like sounds, gestures and writing

Question 31

language allows us to organize and manipulate

Answer 31

our thiking, problem-solving and decision making

Question 32

language reflects and shapes

Answer 32

thought

Question 33

phonemes

Answer 33

basic speech sounds

Question 34

morphemes

Answer 34

meaningful units of language that are the smallest components of speech carrying meaning

Question 35

aphasia

Answer 35

loss of the ability to speak or understand language

Question 36

Broca's aphasia

Answer 36

affects the production of speech

Question 37

Wernicke's aphasia

Answer 37

affects speech comprehension

Question 38

dyslexia is influenced by

Answer 38

genetic factors and has influence on phonological awareness

Question 39

brain differences due to dyslexia

Answer 39

grey matter volume and white matter connectivity in circuits of language processing, also atypical brain lateralization and greater activation near Broca

Question 40

intelligence

Answer 40

ability to understand complex ideas, adapt effectively to the environment, learn from experience, engage in reasoning etc.

Question 41

intelligence quotient

Answer 41

measure of individual intelligence relative to a statistically normal curve

Question 42

frequently used intelligence tests

Answer 42

Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale

Question 43

IQ =

Answer 43

mental age / chronological age X 100

Question 44

fluid intelligence

Answer 44

ability to think logically without needing previously learned knowledge (peaks in young adulthood and then declines)

Question 45

crystallised intelligence

Answer 45

requires specific, learned knowledge such as vocabulary or maths (remains stable in adulthood)

Question 46

biological influences on intelligence are in

Answer 46

brain structure, brain activity, intelligence and genetics

Question 47

intelligence positively correlates with

Answer 47

brain volume

Question 48

genes play a role in

Answer 48

intelligence (75% of variance can be attributed to genetics) but also environmental variables have an impact

Question 49

55-70 IQ indicates

Answer 49

mild intellectual disability

Question 50

40-55 IQ indicates

Answer 50

moderate intellectual disability (down)

Question 51

25-40 IQ indicates

Answer 51

severe intellectual disability

Question 52

IQ below 25

Answer 52

profound intellectual disability