Midterm #2 Flashcards
Algorithms
problem solving strategies based on a series of rules
Anchoring Effect
occurs when an individual attempts to solve a problem involving numbers and uses previous knowledge to keep (i.e., anchor) the response within a limited range
Aphasia
a language disorder caused by damage to the brain structures that support using and understanding language
availability heuristic
entails estimating the frequency of an event based on how easily examples of it come to mind
belief perseverance
occurs when an individual remains committed to their decision or belief even in the face of evidence against it
Broca’s area
a region of the left frontal lobe that controls our ability to articulate speech sounds that compose words
category
a cluster of interrelated concepts
concept
the mental representation of an object, event, or idea
confirmation bias
occurs when individuals search for (or pay attention to) only evidence that will confirm their beliefs instead of evidence that might confirm them
conjunction fallacy
reflects the mistaken belief that finding a specific number in two overlapping categories (I.e., a member of the conjunction of two categories) is more likely than finding any member of one of the larger, general categories
cross-fostered
being raised as a member of a family that is not of the same species
exemplar
a specific example that best represents a category
fast mapping
the ability to map words onto concepts or objects after only a single exposure
functional fixedness
occurs when an individual identifies an object or technique that could potentially solve a problem, but can think of only its most obvious function
graded membership
the observation that some concepts appear to make better category members than others
heuristics
problem solving strategies that stem from prior experiences and provide an educated guess as to what is the most likely solution
language
a form of communication that involves the use of spoken, written, or gestural symbols that are combined in a rule based form
linguistic relativity
(also called Whorfian Hypothesis) the theory that the language we use determines how we understand (and categorize) the world
mental set
a cognitive obstacle that occurs when an individual attempts to apply a routine solution to what is actually a new type of problem
morphemes
the smallest meaningful units of language
phonemes
the most basic units of speech sounds
pragmatics
the study of non-linguistic elements of language use
priming
a technique in which previous exposure to a stimulus can influence that individuals later responses, either to the same stimulus or to one that is related to it
problem solving
accomplishing a goal when the solution or the path to the solution is not clear
prototype
a mental representation of an average category member
representativeness heuristic
making judgements of likelihood based on how well an example represents a specific category
rule-based categorization
categorizing objects or events according to a certain set of rules or by a specific set of features
semantic network
an interconnected set of nodes (or concepts) and the links that join them to form a category
semantics
the study of how people come to understand meaning from words
syntax
the rules for combining words and morphemes into meaningful phrases and sentences
wernicke’s area
the area of the brain most associated with finding the meaning of words
anthropometrics
(literally “the measurement of people”) methods of measuring physical and mental variation in humans
crystallized intelligence
(Gc) a type of intelligence that draws upon past learning and experience
deviation IQ
calculated by comparing a person’s test score with the average score for people of the same age
entity theory
the belief that intelligence is a fixed characteristic and relatively difficult (or impossible) to change
fluid intelligence
(Gf) a type of intelligence used in learning new information and solving new problems not based on knowledge the person already possesses
Flynn effect
the steady population level increase in intelligence test scores over time
gene knockout studies
involve removing a specific gene and comparing the characteristics of animals with and without that gene
general intelligence factor
(g) a persons “mental energy”, reflecting spearman”s belief that some peoples brains are simply more “powerful” than others
incremental theory
the belief that intelligence can be shaped by experiences, practice, and effort
intelligence
the ability to think, understand, reason, and adapt to or overcome obstacles
intelligence quotient
(IQ) a measure of intelligence computed using a standardized test and calculated by taking a person’s mental age, dividing it by their chronological age, and then multiplying by 100
mental age
the average intellectual ability score for children of a specific age
multiple intelligences
a model claiming that there are eight (now updated to at least nine) different forms of intelligence, each independent from the others
nootropic substances
substances that are believed to beneficially affect cognition
person with savant abilities
an individual with low mental capacity in most domains but extraordinary abilities in other specific areas such as music, mathematics, or art
Raven’s Progressive Matrices
an intelligence test that is based on pictures, not words, thus making it relatively unaffected by language or cultural background
stanford-binet test
a test intended to measure innate levels of intelligence
stereotype threat
occurs when negative stereotypes about a group cause group members to underperform on ability tests
weschler adult intelligence scale
(wais) the most common intelligence test In use today for adolescents and adults
accommodation
a creative process whereby people modify their belief structures based on experience
alzheimers disease
a degenerative and terminal condition resulting in sever damage of the entire brain
assimilation
a process whereby people fit new information into the belief systems they already possess
attachment
the enduring emotional bond formed between individuals, initially between infants and caregivers
attachment behavioural system
focused on meeting our own needs for security
caregiving behavioural system
focused on meeting the needs of others
cognitive development
the study of changes in memory, thought, and reasoning processes that occur throughout the lifespan
cohort effect
differences among people that result from being born in different time periods
concrete operational stage
(ages 7-11) developmental stage at which children develop skills in logical thinking and manipulating numbers
conservation
the knowledge that the quantity or amount of an object is not the same as the physical arrangement appearance of that object
conventional morality
regards social conventions and rules as guides for appropriate moral behaviour
core knowledge hypothesis
the theory that infants have inborn abilities for understanding some key aspects of their environment
cross-sectional design
used to measure and compare samples of people at different ages at a given point in time
delaying gratification
putting off immediate temptations in order to focus on longer term goals
dementia
mild to sever disruption of mental functioning, memory loss, disorientation, poor judgement, and decision making
developmental psychology
the study of human physical, cognitive, social, and behavioural characteristics across the lifespan
dishabituation
an increase in responsiveness to a habituated stimulus as the result of the presentation of a new stimulus
egocentric
seeing the world from one’s own perspective
embryonic stage
spans weeks 2-8 of the gestational period, during which time the embryo begins developing major physical structures such as the heart and nervous system, as well as the beginnings of arms, legs, hands, and feet
fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
abnormalities in mental functioning, growth, and physical development in the offspring of women who use alcohol during pregnancy
fetal stage
spans week 8 of the gestational period through birth, during which time the skeletal, organ, and nervous systems become more developed and specialized
formal operational stage
(ages 11 - adulthood) the development of advanced cognitive processes such as abstract reasoning and hypothetical thinking