Thinking, Language, and Intelligence

Question 1

What are the availability, representativeness, and simulation (counterfactual thinking) heuristics ?

Answer 1

availability - strategy for making judgements based on how easily specific kinds of information can be brought to mind (using info available to you)

representativeness - Based on physical appearance and takes what you know and applies it to the mental shortcut. the tendency to see someone or something as belonging to a particular group or category by evaluating how similar this object is to a typical object in that category (if a prof looks a certain way and you see someone that looks like your prof then you think that they are also a prof)

simulation (counterfactual) - Depending on the scenario, one might imagine an alternate situation where things could have been either positive or negative.

Question 2

What are the cognitive outcomes of bilingualism?

Answer 2

greater cognitive flexibility, outperformance of kids in upper grades, better executive control, bilingual people have better activation in the brain than monolingual people.

Question 3

What is stereotype threat?

Answer 3

the presence of a stereotype can determine one’s cognitive abilities.

Question 4

What are fixed and growth mindsets?

Answer 4

fixed - performance is assumed to reflect ability that is unchangeable (fails and says oh well I can’t do anything)
growth - performance is assumed to reflect effort that is modifiable (fails and says okay I will work harder to do better next time)
growth - performance is assumed to reflect effort that is modifiable (fails and says okay I will work harder to do better next time)
Growth results in more effort and persistence