Psychology Chapter 9: Language and Thought

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following is NOT a main area of study in the field of speech?

Pragmatics

Phonetics

Syntax

Morphology (correct)

What is the term for the smallest unit of language that conveys meaning?

Phoneme

Pragmatics

Morpheme (correct)

Syntax

What distinguishes the prevocal learning stage from babbling in infants?

Babbling is more experimental and varied, while prevocal learning focuses on basic vowel sounds. (correct)

Prevocal learning involves only vowels, while babbling includes consonants.

Prevocal learning is a later stage than babbling, occurring after infants start speaking words.

Babbling is meaningless, while prevocal learning is the beginning of language comprehension.

Which aspect of language structure focuses on the order and arrangement of words in sentences?

Syntax (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of these best describes the concept of 'generative' language production?

The ability to create novel and unique ways of expressing ideas. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which stage of language development typically involves the utterance of single words, often nouns?

One Word Stage (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of language structure is most important for meaning?

Semantics (B) Signup and view all the answers

Why is language production considered to be 'generative'?

Because it allows for the creation of novel expressions and ideas. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following brain regions is primarily associated with the ability to understand figurative language, such as metaphors and humor?

Right hemisphere (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of Broca's aphasia?

Impaired ability to produce speech (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a strategy used in problem-solving?

Trial and error (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of Wernicke's aphasia?

Difficulty understanding spoken language (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a factor that contributes to the development of executive function?

The frontal lobe (D) Signup and view all the answers

In the context of language and thinking, what is the linguistic relativity hypothesis?

Language influences how we think, but does not determine it. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a telegraphic speech utterance?

Me want milk. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a symptom of Dysexecutive syndrome?

Inability to control impulses (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of cognitive control?

The ability to understand complex grammar (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between Broca's aphasia and Wernicke's aphasia?

Broca's aphasia affects speech production, while Wernicke's aphasia affects understanding. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the concept of "critical periods" in language development?

It highlights the importance of early exposure to language for optimal cognitive development. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of "Motherese"?

Use of complex grammatical structures (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does the case of Genie illustrate about language acquisition?

Early exposure to language is crucial for optimal brain development and language acquisition. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a key argument of the "nurture" perspective on language development?

Language is learned through environmental influences and interactions. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does the term agrammatism refer to?

A speech disorder characterized by an inability to form words and sentences correctly. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best reflects the "interactionist perspective" on language development?

Language development is a complex interplay between innate abilities and environmental factors. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason why mental sets can impede problem-solving?

They make people resistant to trying new approaches. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT an example of a heuristic?

Developing a step-by-step plan to solve a problem systematically (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main disadvantage of relying on the representativeness heuristic?

It can lead to hasty judgments without considering all relevant information. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Suppose a task requires creatively using household items. What would most likely hinder someone's ability to solve this problem?

Functional Fixedness (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best characterizes the concept of 'insight' in problem-solving?

A sudden realization of a solution to a novel problem (C) Signup and view all the answers

In the Water Jar Problem, what is the primary obstacle preventing a quick solution?

Mental sets hindering flexible thinking (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main concern with confirmation bias in problem-solving?

It limits the search for evidence and alternative solutions (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of Confirmation Bias?

A politician chooses to only read news articles from sources that align with their ideology (D) Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Chapter 9: Language and Thought

Language is a set of symbols used for communication, encompassing spoken, written, or signed words, and how these symbols are combined to convey meaning.
Language is distinct from communication. Animal communication systems, like those of birds or primates, involve associations and reactions but not structured symbolic language.
Language functions include conveying thoughts, enabling social interaction, sharing innovations, and supporting thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making.

What is Language?

Language is a system of symbols used to communicate.
Symbols can represent actions and associations.
Spoken, written, or signed words are symbols.

Functions of Language

Convey thoughts efficiently and accurately.
Support social interaction.
Facilitate the sharing of innovations and ideas.
Support thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making.

Language Structure

Phonology: The study of how sounds are combined to form parts of speech (words).
Semantics: The study of the meaning of words or phrases.
Syntax: The system of grammatical rules governing how words are combined to form sentences.
Pragmatics: The practical aspects of language use, including timing, emphasis, body language, and the social context.

Language Development

Language development follows a sequence of stages: prevocal learning, babbling, one-word stage, and the two-word stage.
Children initially learn to produce all phonemes and later prune out the ones that are not relevant/used in the language they are surrounded by.
Humans acquire language relatively rapidly in the earliest years.
Language is important in culture as it shapes shared experiences and meanings.
Infants usually can't recall their first word.

Theories of Language Development

Nativist (Nature): Children are born with an innate capacity for language (Language Acquisition Device), and learning is facilitated by their environment - Chomsky
Empiricist (Nurture): Language is learned through observation and reinforcement - Skinner.
Interactionist: Language development involves an interaction between innate abilities and environmental influences.

Language and the Brain

Language processing involves several brain areas, including Broca's area (speech production) and Wernicke's area (language comprehension).
Damage to specific brain areas can result in aphasia.
Broca's Aphasia: Difficulty producing or forming language.
Wernicke's Aphasia: Difficulty comprehending language.

Critical Periods

Children undergo a sensitive period for language acquisition.
The brain is most receptive to language during these periods, and deficits can occur if stimuli/interaction is absent or insufficient.

Sex Differences in Language

Girls generally develop language skills earlier than boys.
The difference in language development between genders tends to diminish with age.

Language and Animals

Non-human animals have communication systems, but these are fundamentally different from human language.
Animals can communicate with each other using a variety of methods, including calls, gestures, and signals.
Studies of animal communication challenge the notion of uniqueness in human language capacity.

Problems in Problem Solving

Mental Set: The tendency to approach new problems with thinking strategies that worked in the past.
Functional Fixedness: The inability to see a new use for a familiar object.
Confirmation Bias: Tendency to look for information supporting existing ideas and ignoring contradictory evidence.

Thinking and Problem Solving

Trial and Error: Trying multiple solutions until one works.
Algorithms: Step-by-step procedures that guarantee a solution.
Heuristics: Mental shortcuts and rules of thumb that speed up problem-solving.
Insight: A sudden understanding or realization that leads to a solution.

Thinking and Control

Executive function is crucial for controlling mental processes to accomplish tasks.
It involves the frontal lobe of the brain.
Functions of executive function include managing attention, planning, and working memory as well as controlling impulses.
Dysexecutive syndrome occurs due to damage to the frontal lobe and impairs executive function.

Metacognition

Thinking about thinking. Self-reflection on one's thought processes.

Role of Emotions

Emotions affect decisions beyond logical reasoning/criteria.
Framing (the way information is presented) influences emotional responses and decision-making.
Metacognition can be hindered by strong emotional reactions to situations or information.

Theory of Mind

Understanding that others may hold different beliefs and ideas from oneself.
Developing empathy and perspective-taking abilities.

Studying That Suits You

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Description

Explore the intricate relationship between language and thought in this quiz based on Chapter 9. Understand the definitions, functions, and structures of language, as well as how it differs from mere communication. Test your knowledge on how language supports social interaction and cognitive processes.