Cognition and Linguistics Overview
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Questions and Answers

Which of the following best describes 'cognition'?

  • Only unconscious mental activity
  • Only conscious mental activity
  • Physical processing of information
  • Any mental activity, conscious or unconscious (correct)

The Stroop Effect demonstrates that reading is an effortless, non-automatic process.

False (B)

What is the term for the phenomenon where children with hearing loss create their own signs?

homesign

The reading strategy that involves identifying words by their appearance without sounding them out is called ______.

<p>whole word recognition</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the dual process theory, which system is characterized by quick, unconscious thinking, using mental shortcuts?

<p>System 1 (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What specific type of psychology is described as one that explores the operation of mental processes related to perceiving, attending, thinking, language, and memory?

<p>cognitive psychology</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following concepts with their descriptions:

<p>Sensitive Period = An interval where people are more receptive to learning Phonetic Decomposition = Reading by sounding out words Decision Making = Selecting among a set of alternatives Linguistics = Scientific study of human language</p> Signup and view all the answers

Herbert Simon was a behaviorist who focused on observable behavior

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the function of syntax in language?

<p>The rules governing sentence structure and word order (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Morphological markers are grammatical elements that modify words by adding sounds that maintain the original meaning.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of extralinguistic information in communication?

<p>to provide additional context or meaning</p> Signup and view all the answers

A child's tendency to apply the word 'dog' only to their own pet is an example of word ___________.

<p>underextension</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is considered a key difference between human language and animal communication?

<p>Human language exhibits more complexity, structure, and the ability to convey abstract concepts. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Initial infant vocalizations are highly diverse and vary greatly across different languages.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the two specific areas of the neocortex believed to be important in language processing?

<p>Broca's and Wernicke's areas</p> Signup and view all the answers

The idea that certain speech sounds seem to be associated with particular meanings is known as ___________.

<p>sound symbolism</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT considered a potential evolutionary advantage of language?

<p>Enabling individuals to be more isolated (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of thinking is characterized by being fast, intuitive, and less precise?

<p>System 1 Thinking (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Cognitive misers invest a lot of mental energy to ensure accuracy when solving problems.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of heuristic involves judging the likelihood of an event based on how easily it comes to mind?

<p>availability heuristic</p> Signup and view all the answers

The tendency to favor individuals who belong to the same group as oneself is known as ______ bias.

<p>ingroup</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following terms with their definitions and examples:

<p>Confirmation Bias = Seeking information that supports existing beliefs and dismissing contradictory data Hindsight Bias = Overestimating the predictability of past events after knowing the outcome Mental Set = Sticking to a familiar problem-solving strategy, inhibiting alternative approaches Functional Fixedness = Difficulty imagining an object to be used in a way other than its conventional purpose</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is 'thin slicing'?

<p>The ability to extract useful information from small bits of behavior. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

System 2 thinking is generally slower but more accurate than System 1 thinking.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a step-by-step learned procedure used to solve problems?

<p>algorithm</p> Signup and view all the answers

The 'Candle experiment' by Duncker is an example of ______.

<p>functional fixedness</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following language acquisition theories with their primary focus:

<p>Empiricist Theory = Language acquisition through imitation and reinforcement Nativist Theory = Innate predisposition to learn language using a language acquisition device Interactionist Theory = The combination of biology and experience contributing to language acquisition Social Pragmatics Account = Children inferring word meanings from context and social interaction</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the smallest units of meaning in language?

<p>Morphemes (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Chomsky, people have a natural inclination to learn any language until their teenage years.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the process by which individuals conserve mental resources due to their limited supply?

<p>cognitive economy</p> Signup and view all the answers

The ______ heuristic involves judging categories based on how representative they are of a mental prototype.

<p>representative</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an obstacle to efficient problem solving that occurs when focusing on surface-level similarities rather than underlying issues?

<p>Salience of Surface Similarities (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Cognition

The act of any mental activity, including conscious or unconscious information processing.

High order cognition

Refers to difficult and effortful thinking that draws on all aspects of cognition, including perception, knowledge, memory, language, and reasoning. Examples include decision making and problem solving.

Decision Making

A process of selecting from a set of alternatives. Usually involves System 1 thinking for quick decisions, and System 2 for more significant decisions.

Salience

The ability to easily recognize and interpret important information. Things that are salient are noticeable or striking.

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Linguistics

The study of human languages, examining their physical, structural, functional, psychological, and social aspects.

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Sensitive Period

An interval during which individuals are more receptive to acquiring new skills, habits, or qualities. Language acquisition is easier during a sensitive period.

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Homesign

The phenomenon where deaf children create their own signs without any prior exposure to sign language.

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Dual Process Theory

A theory suggesting that cognition involves two distinct systems of thinking, which differ in their speed, efficiency, and level of consciousness.

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Cognitive Economy

A mental process that uses minimal effort and resources to make quick decisions.

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Heuristic

A mental shortcut that allows for quick decisions using limited effort.

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Availability Heuristic

A heuristic that estimates the likelihood of something based on the ease with which examples come to mind.

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Representative Heuristic

A heuristic that judges a category based on its similarity to a mental prototype.

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Cognitive Bias

A systematic pattern of deviation from logical thinking that is influenced by subjective factors like emotions, expectations, and motivations.

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Confirmation Bias

A bias that causes us to seek information that confirms our existing beliefs and dismiss information that contradicts them.

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Hindsight Bias

A bias that leads to overestimating the predictability of past events after we know the outcome.

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Ingroup Bias

A bias that leads us to favor individuals who belong to the same group.

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Outgroup Homogeneity Bias

A bias that leads us to perceive less variation within outgroups compared to ingroups.

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Thin Slicing

The ability to extract useful information from small bits of behavior.

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Top-Down Processing

A mental process that fills in missing information using prior knowledge and experiences.

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Concept

A mental representation of knowledge about objects, actions, and characteristics that share core properties.

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Schema

A mental representation of how things relate to each other, stored in memory.

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System 2 Thinking

A deliberate, conscious, and effortful mode of thinking that requires attention.

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Algorithm

A step-by-step procedure used to solve problems.

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Phonemes

Categories of sound produced by the vocal apparatus. There are approximately 100 distinct phonemes, but languages use varying amounts. For example, the "R" and "L" distinction might be pronounced differently in various languages.

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Syntax

The set of rules and principles that govern the arrangement of words and phrases in a sentence, ensuring grammatical correctness. It primarily focuses on sentence structure and word order.

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Morphological markers

Grammatical elements that modify words by adding sounds that change the meaning, often found at the end of words. Examples include -ing (e.g., walk-walking).

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Semantics

The branch of linguistics that examines the meaning of words, phrases, sentences, and texts. It focuses on how meaning is interpreted and understood, regardless of grammatical structure.

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Extralinguistic Information

Non-verbal elements that accompany or support verbal communication, providing context or meaning. These include facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice.

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Dialects

Variations of the same language used by groups of people from specific areas, social groups, or ethnic backgrounds. They employ slight variations in pronunciations, vocabulary, and syntax.

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Language Development

The process by which humans acquire language. It begins with early infant vocalizations, progresses to babbling, and eventually involves recognizing and producing words and sentences.

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Initial Infant Vocalizations

Initial infant vocalizations are similar across languages. These are repetitive babbles with no meaning, along with phonemes and morphemes. They develop into babbling that resembles language by around 6 months.

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Language and Abstract Thought

The ability to convey abstract concepts through language is uniquely human. While some animals have been taught to communicate using sign language or symbols, they lack the complexity and structure of human language.

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Language Origins - Survival Advantage

Researchers believe that language evolved in Homo sapiens over a long period for survival. It likely provided advantages in communication and collaboration, mating, offspring care, and competition.

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Study Notes

Cognition and Thinking

  • Cognition encompasses all mental activity, conscious and unconscious, involving information processing.
  • Thinking is a conscious form of mental activity and information processing.
  • High-order cognition includes challenging mental tasks like decision-making and problem-solving, demanding various cognitive functions (perception, knowledge, memory, language, reasoning).
  • Decision-making involves selecting among options, often using System 1 thinking but employing System 2 for high-stakes choices.

Linguistics

  • Linguistics studies the structural, functional, psychological, and social aspects of language.
  • Language acquisition is the process of learning or developing a language skill, habit, or quality.
  • Homesign is a natural form of sign language invented by deaf children lacking exposure to formal sign language.
  • Sensitive periods in language development are times of enhanced receptive learning (different from critical periods).

Cognitive Psychology

  • Cognitive psychology explores mental processes related to perception, attention, thinking, language, and memory.
  • It aims to understand how these processes impact behaviors and interact.
  • It's an empirical field relying on observation and experimentation.
  • Cognitive psychology emerged in the 1950s, challenging behaviorism and psychoanalytic theories, focusing on internal mental processes.
  • It was influenced by researchers like Herbert Simon (decision-making), Jean Piaget (child development), and Noam Chomsky (language).

Dual Process Theory

  • Dual process theory proposes two cognitive systems:
    • System 1: Fast, automatic, intuitive, using heuristics (mental shortcuts), less precise, and relied on more frequently.
    • System 2: Slow, controlled, deliberate, requiring effort, more precise, employed for complex decisions.

Cognitive Economy

  • Cognitive economy is the mental strategy to minimize cognitive effort.
  • It produces "cognitive misers" who conserve effortunless necessary.
  • This can lead to oversimplifications, yet may still be efficient.

System 1 Thinking

  • Employs heuristics for rapid decisions:
    • Availability heuristic: Reliance on easily recalled experiences to judge probability.
    • Representative heuristic: Classifying new experiences based on existing prototypes, potentially overlooking base rate frequency.
  • Examples illustrate rapid, efficient judgments through thin slicing.

Cognitive Bias

  • Cognitive biases stem from factors like emotions and expectations and lead to deviations from logical thought processes.
    • Confirmation bias: Seeking supportive information, ignoring contradictory information.
    • Hindsight bias: Overestimating predictability of past events now that outcomes are known.
    • In-group bias: Favoring individuals in the same group.
    • Out-group homogeneity bias: Perceiving out-group members as less diverse.

Attention

  • Attention is a limited mental resource directing focus to relevant information.
  • Division of attention leads to diminished accuracy.
  • Thin slicing means using small segments of behavior to extract useful information.

Top-Down Processing

  • Top-down processing uses prior knowledge and schemas to interpret information.
  • Concepts involve general knowledge about objects or actions.
  • Schemas provide memory structures for how things relate.

System 2 Thinking

  • System 2 involves conscious, controlled, analytical thinking that is effortful.
  • System 2 is important in challenging or consequential situations.
  • Cognitive load can be a factor as system 2 requires substantial mental resources and control.
  • System 2 is also impacted by mental sets and functional fixedness.

Decision Making and Problem Solving

  • Decision-making is influenced by factors like framing.
  • Problem-solving uses strategies like:
    • Algorithms: Step-by-step procedures.
    • Subproblems: Breaking problems into smaller parts.
    • Analogies: Using related examples to solve similar problems.
  • Obstacles to problem-solving include mental sets and functional fixedness.

Language

  • Language is a system of communication using symbols.
  • Language acquisition theories include:
    • Empiricist: Language learned through imitation and reinforcement.
    • Nativist: Language is innate, with a Language Acquisition Device (LAD).
    • Interactionist: Language development blends nature and nurture.
  • Components of language include morphemes, phonemes, syntax, semantics, and extralinguistic cues.

Language Development

  • Language learning proceeds from vocalizations to words and sentences.
  • Children develop language capacity rapidly but could encounter over-extensions or under-extensions of words.
  • Animal language research faces challenges due to cognitive and physiological constraints.

Language Origins

  • Language likely evolved in Homo sapiens as an adaptation for survival, enabling communication, collaboration, and complex behaviour.

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Description

This quiz explores key concepts in cognition and linguistics, including information processing, decision-making, language acquisition, and homesign. Test your understanding of how these fields interrelate and the cognitive functions involved in language. Challenge yourself with questions on sensitive periods in language development and cognitive processes.

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