Mind Modularity & ToM Flashcards
What did Watson (1925) believe about innate mental faculties?
A) They exist and play a significant role in individual differences
B) They do not exist and play no role in individual differences
C) They are influenced by environmental factors
D) They are responsible for language acquisition
B) They do not exist and play no role in individual differences
John B. Watson, a prominent behaviorist, believed that innate mental faculties (such as instinctual behaviors or mental abilities) do not exist. He argued that all human behavior is learned through interactions with the environment, emphasizing the role of nurture over nature. Watson rejected the idea of innate mental faculties and instead proposed that individual differences are shaped entirely by environmental factors, such as upbringing and experiences.
This perspective aligns with his behaviorist views, which focused on observable behaviors and rejected the idea of unobservable internal mental states or faculties.
What is the Language Acquisition Device according to Chomsky?
A) A tool for learning multiple languages
B) An innate predisposition to learn language
C) A method for teaching language to infants
D) A device used in language laboratories
B) An innate predisposition to learn language
According to Noam Chomsky, the Language Acquisition Device (LAD) is a hypothetical innate mental mechanism that allows humans to rapidly acquire language during early childhood. Chomsky proposed that this device is hard-wired into the human brain, making humans predisposed to learn language. He believed that all humans are born with an inherent ability to understand the fundamental principles of language, which is why children can learn language so quickly and effectively, regardless of the specific language they are exposed to.
Chomsky’s theory contrasts with the behaviorist perspective, which argued that language acquisition is purely a learned behavior based on environmental stimuli.
What does Evolutionary Psychology claim about the human mind?
A) It is a blank slate influenced only by the environment
B) It is made up of innate mental modules
C) It is entirely shaped by cultural factors
D) It has no specialized processing units
B) It is made up of innate mental modules
Evolutionary psychology claims that the human mind consists of specialized, innate mental modules that have evolved to solve specific problems related to survival and reproduction. These modules are thought to be the product of natural selection and are designed to address the challenges faced by our ancestors in their environment. For example, there might be mental modules for language acquisition, social cooperation, mate selection, and threat detection, all of which helped our ancestors survive and reproduce.
Unlike the “blank slate” theory, which suggests that the mind is entirely shaped by the environment, evolutionary psychology posits that our cognitive abilities have a genetic basis and are largely shaped by evolutionary pressures.
What is the significance of infant studies in understanding mind modularity?
A) They show that all abilities are acquired through experience
B) They provide evidence for innate capacities
C) They prove that developmental disorders are genetic
D) They demonstrate the role of education in cognitive development
B) They provide evidence for innate capacities
Infant studies are significant in understanding mind modularity because they often provide evidence that certain cognitive abilities or mental modules are present from an early age, suggesting that they are innate rather than learned purely through experience. For example, infants have been shown to have an innate capacity for recognizing faces, understanding social cues, and even basic numerical concepts, which supports the idea that the human mind has specialized, pre-wired modules for specific functions.
These studies help strengthen the evolutionary psychology claim that the human mind is equipped with mental structures shaped by natural selection to address various survival and reproductive challenges.
What did Piaget observe about developmental milestones in children?
A) They vary greatly depending on cultural background
B) They are reached at similar ages despite different experiences
C) They are solely determined by genetic factors
D) They are influenced by parental education levels
B) They are reached at similar ages despite different experiences
Jean Piaget, a Swiss developmental psychologist, observed that children across different cultures and environments reach key developmental milestones at approximately the same ages. He believed that cognitive development occurs in stages, and that these stages are universal, meaning that children of different backgrounds and experiences still go through the same basic stages of development (e.g., sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, formal operational stages).
Piaget emphasized the importance of maturation and the interaction between a child’s innate abilities and the environment in shaping cognitive development. However, he argued that the order of developmental stages is consistent, even though the specific timing and cultural context might affect the speed or manner in which children pass through these stages.
What is the Epigenetic Landscape according to Waddington?
A) A model explaining how genes determine behavior
B) A concept describing the interaction between genes and environment
C) A theory about the role of education in development
D) A framework for understanding cognitive abilities in adults
B) A concept describing the interaction between genes and environment
Conrad Waddington introduced the idea of the epigenetic landscape as a metaphor to explain how genes and the environment interact during development. In this concept, Waddington visualized a ball rolling down a landscape of hills and valleys, where the ball’s path represented the developmental process. The “hills” and “valleys” symbolized the various possible outcomes of development, and the ball’s path was shaped by both the genetic instructions and environmental influences.
The epigenetic landscape illustrates that development is not solely determined by genes, but rather by a dynamic interaction between an organism’s genetic makeup and the environment, leading to various possible developmental trajectories. This concept was an important step in recognizing that development is a flexible process, not solely fixed by genetic inheritance.
What is one of the basic assumptions of adult physical knowledge?
A) Objects do not endure independent of our perception
B) Objects endure independent of our ability to perceive them
C) Physical laws are irrelevant to cognitive development
D) Infants have no understanding of object permanence
B) Objects endure independent of our ability to perceive them
One of the basic assumptions of adult physical knowledge is that objects continue to exist even when they are not being perceived. This concept is known as object permanence, and it is fundamental to our understanding of the world. It suggests that objects and events exist independently of our perception of them, which allows us to function in a world where we can mentally represent things that are not immediately visible or perceptible.
This assumption becomes clear as infants develop object permanence, which Piaget observed as a major cognitive milestone in the sensorimotor stage of development.
At what age did Piaget initially think object permanence develops?
A) 4 months
B) 6 months
C) 8/9 months
D) 12 months
C
What is the adaptive advantage of infants recognizing their mothers?
A) It helps in language development
B) It secures resources for survival
C) It enhances cognitive abilities
D) It improves social interactions
The adaptive advantage of infants recognizing their mothers is that it secures resources for survival1. This recognition helps ensure that infants can secure the necessary resources for their survival, such as food and protection.
What is the Theory of Mind (ToM)?
A) The ability to understand physical objects
B) The ability to infer the mental states of others
C) The ability to recognize faces
D) The ability to learn languages
B
What does the False Belief Test assess?
A) Language acquisition
B) Object permanence
C) Theory of Mind
D) Cognitive development
Theory of Mind
At what age does Theory of Mind typically develop?
A) 2-3 years
B) 4-5 years
C) 6-7 years
D) 8-9 years
B)4-5
What is one factor that can help in developing Theory of Mind?
A) Having an older sibling
B) Attending preschool
C) Watching educational TV shows
D) Reading books
One factor that can help in developing Theory of Mind is having an older sibling. This is because competing for resources like attention and toys with an older sibling can enhance a child’s ability to understand and infer the mental states of others
What is a characteristic of individuals with autism in relation to Theory of Mind?
A) They excel in social interactions
B) They have impairments in understanding mental states of others
C) They show no cognitive impairments
D) They have superior language abilities
B) They have impairments in understanding mental states of others
What is Williams Syndrome characterized by?
A) Superior visuo-spatial abilities
B) Impairments in visuo-spatial abilities
C) Lack of social cognition
D) Enhanced physical abilities
B) Impairments in visuo-spatial abilities
