Unit 5.2: Cognition, Thinking, and Language Flashcards
cognition
all mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, communicating
includes forming concepts
concept
mental grouping of simialr objects, events, ideas, or people
formed through prototypes (best example of a concept) – slower 2 recognize when object is further from prototype
function to readily recognize things - synthesizing lots of info with little effort
creativity
ability to produce new and valuable ideas
involves aptitude (ability to learn) but not the only factor
requires both convergent and divergent thinking
demands:
* expertise
* imaginative skills
* adventurous personality
* intrinsic motivation
* creative environment
convergent thinking
narrowing down solutions to find the single best one
divergent thinking
considering many different options as solutions
algorithm
mod 35
methodical, logical procedure that guarantees a solution to a problem
opposite of heuristics
heuristic
thinking shortcuts 2 solve problems. quicker than algorithms but more error prone.
insight
sudden realizaiton of a problem’s solution
Which phenomenons limit our creative problem solving by predisposing our thinking?
confirmation bias: search for info to support + ignore info that denies a preconception
fixation: inability to see problem from a new perspective, which results frmo one’s mental set (approaching problems in one particular way, usually a previously successful one)
intuition
effortless, immediate thought (oppsote of explicit thinking)
utilizes two heuristics:
* representativeness: estimating likelihood based on how they seem to match prototypes (shy person who wears glasses seems more likely to be librarian)
* avaiiability: estimating likelihood based on how readily examples come to mind (shark attacks seem more likely to kill than car crashes b/c more notable and scary)
overconfidence
tendency to overestimate accuracy of beliefs
negative effects diminish w/ experience, but ppl appear competent and live happier as positives
planning fallacy: overest. leisure time + underest. time it’ll take to do something
belief perseverance
clinging to a belief even in the face of contrary evidence
CONSIDER THE OPPOSITE
framing
the way an issue is posed
can sig affect judgment
90% survival rate v 10% death rate
opt out of organ donorship v opt in
What makes us fear things?
What ancestry prepared us to fear
What we cannot control
What is immediate
What’s available in memory
What’s disastrous
factor analysis
a statistical method that identifies the common cause of variance in different tests
ex: intelligence … verbal ability score»_space; = good on tests that requires verbal abilities
What is the similarity between adoptive children and their adoptive parents over time in terms of intelligence?
Adoptive children become slightly less similar to their adoptive parents over time in intelligence
phonemes
smallest distinctive sound units in a language
English uses abt 40
ex: cheers = “ch”, “ee”, “r”, “s”
morphemes
smallest language units that carry meaning
ex: readers…
“read”
“er” (one who reads)
“s” (multiple)
grammar
language’s set of rules that enable people to communicate
semantics
set of rules for deriving meaning from sounds
syntax
how words are arranged in grammatically correct sentences
What is the general timeline for learning language?
4 months: read lips, recognize differences in speech sounds
6-9 months: receptive lang (ability to understand what is said to/about them)
10 months: babbling stage (spontaneously utters various sounds that resemble household lang)
1-2 years: one word / two word stage
24 months+: telegraphic speech (simple sentences using mostly nouns and verbs)
What is B.F. Skinner’s operant learning language theory?
Children learn language the same way animals learn mazes, through operant conditioning
(learned behavior = nurture)
What is Noam Chomsky’s inborn universal grammar language theory?
language = unlearned natural human trait (not confined to spec language though)
explains how we can pick up lang + use grammar so well in pre-school
What is the critical period to learn language?
0-3 years = optimal window. BUT after 7 years, they lose the ability to master any language.
visual cortex
responsible for visual perception - lip-reading, etc.
angular gyrus
responsible for reading/writing function
linguistic determinism
the idea that language determines/influences the way we think and are capable of thinking
Whorf = the guy
ex: Hopi language XX past tense, so cannot think readily abt past
How do we think using images?
imagining a physical activity activates same brain region as when actually performing the activity
What are the three main behaviors of intelligence?
LEARNING from experiences to adapt to new situations
UNDERSTANDING and handling abstract concepts
USING knowledge to manipulate surroundings (problem-solve)
g factor / general intelligence theory
a single general ability that can express intelligence, argued as the basis of more specific expressions (s factors, or spec abilities produced by that Intel)
Charles Spearman’s theory
multiple intelligences theory
there are 7 factors of intelligence spanning variety of abilities (e.g. spatial, inductive reasoning, word fluency, etc.)
L.L. Thurstone’s theory
savant syndrome
demonstrating extraordinary specific skill but having otherwise limited mental ability
ex: Kim Peek = excellent memory, but v literal mindset, limited skills
Eight Intelligences
Gardner’s theory of 8 individual intelligences:
kinesthetic
spatial
musical
verbal/linguistic
mathematical
interpersonal
intrapersonal
naturalistic
emotional intelligence theory
social intelligence is k2 success in life:
self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship management
good predictors of success
grit
passion + perseverance in pursuit of long term goals
correlated w success, energy, and conscientiousness
What is the 10-year rule of skills?
You become an expert after 10 years of diligent, continuous practice
social intelligence
involving understanding social situations and managing ourselves successfully
intelligence test
assessment of individual mental aptitudes
based on numerical comparison to wider population
achievement test
assessment designed to measure learning
ex: AP exams
aptitude test
assessment designed to predict what you’re capable of learning
ex: college entrance exams
Why did Alfred Binet begin to test intelligence in children?
He wanted to know which students had difficulty in school + who needed the most help
mental age
Binet’s measure of intelligence test performance
lvl of performance associated with typical child of that age
ex: performance of average 8 year old = mental age of 8.
Stanford Binet test
Theodore Simon’s widely used American revision of Binet’s test based on mental age
measures 5 components: fluid reasoning, knowledge, quant reasoning, visual-spatial processing, working memory
What is William Stern’s IQ formula?
Mental age / chronological age * 100
ex: 12 yr old girl has mental age of 18 … IQ of 150
Francis Galton
tried but failed to find simple measure of intelligence via test
coined phrase “nature vs. nurture” BUT work was biased twds innate genius (drifted into eugenics)
Alfred Binet
believed in enviro infl + intelligences as NOT a fixed trait
started modern intelligence testing by calculating mental age to predict school progress
Lewis Terman
adapted Binet’s tests for age to measure innate intelligence
believed in inherent genius (drifted into eugenics)
What is the WAIS and WISC?
Wechster Adult Intelligence Scale / children’s version of that
reflects mostly nonverbal abilities
What three criteria must a psychological test meet?
standardized: uniform testing procedures with pretested group as basis for comparison
reliable: consistency of results upon retesting
valid: samples pertinent behavior (content validity) AND successfully predicts pertinent behavior (predictive validity)
cohort
group of people sharing common characteristic (e.g. age, race, gender)
crystallized intelligence
use of previously acquired knowledge - accumulated knowledge and verbal skills
»_space;> after 20s
ex: authors, historians, philosophers
fluid intelligence
problem-solving in novel situations without prior knowledge, w/ logical and abstract thinking
«< after 20s
ex: scientists, mathematicians, engineers
cross-sectional study
compares people of different ages / life circumstances at the same point in time
ex: 70 year old cohort and 30 year old cohort that finds mental ability «< with age
excellent snapshot of particular pt in time
longitudinal study
follows and retests the same people over time (at different points in their lifespan)
ex: people born in 1900s vs 1960s … found mental ability remains stable, and sometimes increases, with a ge
better equipped to trace evolution of traits over long time period
How stable are intelligence scores over the life span?
stability of intelligence w/ age»_space;
* age 4: begins to predict (still fluctuates)
* early teens: scores stable and predictive of adult scores
intellectual disability
limited mental ability as designated by < 70 IQ
difficulty adjusting 2 life (limited adaptive ability)
Down Syndrome
extra chromosome 21 –> mild to severe physical and cognitive impairment
heritability
extent to which differences between individuals in a group is due to genes
if environment > equal, heritability»_space;
What does evidence reveal about environmental influences on intelligence (through twin studies)?
identical twins raised apart have less correlation, showing environmental effects
BUT different genes raised together have even less correlation, showing genetic influences as well
early intervention
improving an environment early in the lifespan
quality preschool =»_space; intelligence scores
Head Start boosts aptitude modestly over time
conversely, children with lead poisoning (flint) = «_space;test scores
growth mindset
emphasis on learning and growing believing that skills and intelligence can change
ability + opportunity + motivation = success
How are intelligence tests biased?
sensitive to performance differences caused by cultural experience BUT
most experts agree «_space;bias b/c tests are valid and reliable across all groups
stereotype threat
phenomenon in which people feel at risk of conforming to stereotypes about competence
creates anxiety that leads to power test scores
