AP Psychology - Cognition and Intelligence

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Questions and Answers

What part of the brain is responsible for thinking, planning, and language?

Temporal lobe

Prefrontal cortex (correct)

Occipital lobe

Cerebellum

What is a mental image?

Picture-like representations that stand in for objects or events.

What is a concept?

A mental grouping of similar objects, events, ideas, or people.

What is a prototype?

A mental image or best example of a category. Signup and view all the answers

Define hierarchy.

A group organized by rank. Signup and view all the answers

What is an algorithm?

A methodical, logical rule or procedure that guarantees solving a particular problem. Signup and view all the answers

Define heuristic.

A simple thinking strategy that often allows us to make judgments and solve problems efficiently. Signup and view all the answers

What is the mental set?

A tendency to approach a problem in one particular way. Signup and view all the answers

Define functional fixedness.

The tendency to think of things only in terms of their usual functions. Signup and view all the answers

What is confirmation bias?

A tendency to search for information that supports our preconceptions. Signup and view all the answers

Define belief bias.

The tendency for one's preexisting beliefs to distort logical reasoning. Signup and view all the answers

What is the availability heuristic?

Estimating the likelihood of events based on their availability in memory. Signup and view all the answers

Define representativeness heuristic.

Judging the likelihood of things in terms of how well they seem to represent particular prototypes. Signup and view all the answers

What is framing?

The way an issue is posed. Signup and view all the answers

Define overconfidence.

The tendency to be more confident than correct. Signup and view all the answers

Match divergent and convergent thinking with their definitions:

Divergent thinking = Thought process used to generate creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions Convergent thinking = Ability to give the 'correct' answer to standard questions that do not require significant creativity Signup and view all the answers

Differentiate phoneme and morpheme:

Phoneme = Distinct units of sound in a specified language that distinguish one word from another Morpheme = Smallest grammatical unit in a language that carries meaning Signup and view all the answers

Differentiate receptive and productive language:

Receptive = Ability to understand or comprehend language heard or read Productive = Speaking and writing language Signup and view all the answers

Who is Noam Chomsky?

A linguist known for language development theories. Signup and view all the answers

What is the language acquisition device?

Chomsky's concept of an innate mechanism that allows children to acquire language naturally. Signup and view all the answers

Define universal grammar.

Chomsky's theory that no dialect or language is more complex than another. Signup and view all the answers

Who is B.F. Skinner?

A behaviorist known for techniques to manipulate behavioral consequences. Signup and view all the answers

What is linguistic determinism?

The hypothesis that language determines the way we think. Signup and view all the answers

What is cooing?

Simple sounds mainly consisting of vowels produced by infants starting at 6-8 weeks. Signup and view all the answers

Define babbling.

The stage of language development at about 4 months when an infant utters nonsense sounds. Signup and view all the answers

What is telegraphic speech?

An early speech stage that combines words to convey more complex meanings. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Cognition and Intelligence Key Terms

Prefrontal Cortex: Part of the frontal lobe associated with higher-order thinking, planning, and language processing.
Mental Image: Visual representations that symbolize objects or events.
Concept: A cognitive category that groups similar objects, events, ideas, or people.
Prototype: The best or most typical example of a particular category.
Hierarchy: A system organized by levels of rank or importance.
Algorithm: A systematic, logical process guaranteeing the solution to a problem, in contrast to faster but less reliable heuristics.
Heuristic: A simple thinking strategy that aids in judgment and problem-solving, usually quicker but potentially more error-prone than algorithms.
Mental Set: The inclination to approach problems in a habitual way, often based on previous success.
Functional Fixedness: The tendency to view objects only in their conventional use, hindering problem solving.
Confirmation Bias: The inclination to favor information that confirms existing beliefs while dismissing contradictory evidence.
Belief Bias: Pre-existing beliefs can distort logical reasoning, leading to mistaken conclusions.
Availability Heuristic: Estimating event likelihood based on memory availability; vivid instances are perceived as common.
Representativeness Heuristic: Assessing likelihood based on how well something matches a prototype, potentially overlooking other relevant information.
Framing: The presentation of an issue impacts decision-making and judgment significantly.
Overconfidence: The tendency to be more certain than accurate, leading to inflated confidence in one's beliefs.

Thinking and Language Development

Divergent vs. Convergent Thinking: Divergent thinking generates creative solutions through broad exploration, whereas convergent thinking focuses on finding the single correct answer to standard questions.
Phoneme vs. Morpheme: Phonemes are the smallest sound units in a language distinguishing meaning (like 'b' or 'p'), while morphemes are the smallest grammatical units carrying meaning, such as prefixes.
Receptive vs. Productive Language: Receptive language refers to understanding spoken or written language, while productive language pertains to speaking and writing skills.
Noam Chomsky: Proposed that language acquisition is innate, highlighting that humans have an inherent ability to develop language regardless of environmental factors.
Language Acquisition Device: Chomsky's idea of a prewired brain mechanism enabling children to learn language naturally.
Universal Grammar: Chomsky’s theory that no language is inherently superior in complexity; all humans have the capacity to learn any language without formal instruction.
B.F. Skinner: Behavioral psychologist known for developing techniques to manipulate behavior through reinforcement observed through the Skinner box.
Linguistic Determinism: Benjamin Whorf's hypothesis positing that language shapes the way individuals think.

Language Development Stages

Cooing: From 6-8 weeks, infants start producing simple vowel sounds, typically reflecting contentment.
Babbling: Occurs around 4 months when infants begin producing nonsensical sounds spontaneously.
Telegraphic Speech: Early language use characterized by short sentences that include only essential words, omitting less critical grammar.

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Explore key concepts in Cognition and Intelligence from AP Psychology with these flashcards. Dive into the roles of the prefrontal cortex, mental images, concepts, and prototypes. Perfect for review or exam preparation.