Cognition Chapter 7 PDF

Cognition Chapter 7  Table of contents 01 02 03 How People Think Intelligence Terman’s Termites 04 05 Language Mental and Physical...

Cognition Chapter 7  Table of contents 01 02 03 How People Think Intelligence Terman’s Termites 04 05 Language Mental and Physical Exercises for Better Cognitive Health 01 How People Think Thinking and Mental Images Thinking (cognition) Mental activity that goes on in the brain when a person is processing information processing includes organizing, understanding, and communicating information to others Mental images Mental representations that stand for objects or events and have a picture-like quality  Concepts Concepts Ideas that represent a class or category of objects, events, or activities Formal concepts Concepts that are defined by specific rules or features Natural concepts Concepts people form as a result of their experiences in the real world  Concepts Prototype A concept that closely matches the defining characteristics of that concept prototypes develop according to the exposure a person has to objects in that category  Problem Solving Problem solving Occurs when a goal must be reached by thinking and behaving in certain ways Decision making Identifying, evaluating, and choosing between alternatives  Problem Solving Trial and error (mechanical solution) Problem-solving method in which one possible solution after another is tried until a successful one is found Algorithms Very specific, step-by-step procedures for solving certain types of problems will always result in a correct solution if one exists to be found e.g., mathematical formulas  Problem Solving Heuristic Educated guess based on prior experiences that help narrow down the possible solutions for a problem; also known as a “rule of thumb” representative heuristic – the assumption that any object (or person) sharing characteristics with the members of a particular category is also a member of that category Availability heuristic - estimating the frequency or likelihood of an event based on how easy it is to recall relevant information from memory or how easy it is to think of related examples Working backward from the goal is a useful heuristic Break a goal down into subgoals, so that as each subgoal is achieved, the final solution is that much closer  Problem Solving Insight Sudden perception of a solution to a problem “aha!” moment E.g. Problem may be recognized as similar to another previously solved  Problem Solving Barriers Functional fixedness A block to problem solving that comes from thinking about objects only in terms of their typical functions Mental set The tendency for people to persist in using problem-solving patterns that have worked for them in the past Confirmation bias The tendency to search for evidence that fits one’s beliefs while ignoring any evidence that does not fit those beliefs  Creativity Creativity The process of solving problems by combining ideas or behavior in new ways Convergent thinking - a problem is seen as having only one answer, and all lines of thinking will eventually lead to (converge on)that single answer, using previous knowledge and logic Divergent thinking - a person starts from one point and comes up with many different ideas or possibilities based on that point (a kind of creativity) 02 Intelligence  Intelligence Intelligence The ability to learn from one’s experiences, acquire knowledge, and use resources effectively in adapting to new situations or solving problems  Theories of Intelligence Spearman's Theory g factor - the ability to reason and solve problems; general intelligence s factor: the ability to excel in certain areas; specific intelligence  Theories of Intelligence Gardner's multiple intelligences  Theories of Intelligence According to Gardner, what kind of intelligence is being shown here?  Theories of Intelligence According to Gardner, what kind of intelligence is being shown here?  Theories of Intelligence According to Gardner, what kind of intelligence is being shown here?  Theories of Intelligence According to Gardner, what kind of intelligence is being shown here?  Theories of Intelligence Sternberg’s triarchic theory of intelligence there are three kinds of intelligences 1. Analytical - the ability to break problems down into component parts, or analysis, for problem solving 2. Creative - the ability to deal with new and different concepts and to come up with new ways of solving problems 3. Practical - the ability to use information to get along in life and become successful; “street smarts”  Theories of Intelligence Sternberg’s triarchic theory of intelligence there are three kinds of intelligences 1. Analytical - the ability to break problems down into component parts, or analysis, for problem solving 2. Creative - the ability to deal with new and different concepts and to come up with new ways of solving problems 3. Practical - the ability to use information to get along in life and become successful; “street smarts”  IQ Tests Intelligence quotient (IQ) A number representing a measure of intelligence, resulting from the division of one’s mental age by one’s chronological age and then multiplying that quotient by 100 Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales yield an IQ score Allows testers to compare the intelligence levels of people from different age groups  IQ Tests Wechsler Intelligence Tests yield a verbal score and a performance score, as well as an overall score of intelligence  Development of IQ Tests Reliability The tendency of a test to produce the same scores again and again each time it is given to the same people Validity The degree to which a test actually measures what it's supposed to measure  Development of IQ Tests Reliability The tendency of a test to produce the same scores again and again each time it is given to the same people Validity The degree to which a test actually measures what it's supposed to measure Standardization The process of giving the test to a large group of people that represents the kind of people for whom the test is designed Norms - scores from the standardization group most intelligence tests follow a normal curve  Development of IQ Tests Reliability The tendency of a test to produce the same scores again and again each time it is given to the same people Validity The degree to which a test actually measures what it's supposed to measure Standardization The process of giving the test to a large group of people that represents the kind of people for whom the test is designed Norms - scores from the standardization group most intelligence tests follow a normal curve  Development of IQ Tests Cultural bias Cultural free tests (CFIT) The usefulness of 1Q tests 1Q tests are generally valid for predicting academic success and job performance Neuropsychology Head injury, learning disabilities, neuropsychological disorders  Intellectual Disability Intellectual disability (intellectual developmental disorder) a person exhibits deficits in mental ability and adaptive behavior IQ falls below 70 adaptive behavior is severely deficient for a person of a particular chronological age formerly known as mental retardation or developmentally delayed Intellectual disability can vary from mild to profound Causes of developmental delay include deprived environments, as well as chromosome and genetic disorders, alcohol, dietary deficiencies, and toxins in the environment  Giftedness Gifted The 2 percent of the population falls on the upper end of the normal curve and typically possesses an IQ of 130 or above Does giftedness guarantee success? 03 Terman’s Termites  Giftedness Terman conducted a longitudinal study that demonstrated that gifted children grow up to be successful adults, for the most part. Terman’s study has been criticized for a lack of objectivity, because he became too involved in the lives of his “Termites”, even to the point of interfering on their behalf.  Giftedness Terman conducted a longitudinal study that demonstrated that gifted children grow up to be successful adults, for the most part. Terman’s study has been criticized for a lack of objectivity, because he became too involved in the lives of his “Termites”, even to the point of interfering on their behalf.  Giftedness Emotional intelligence Awareness of and ability to manage one’s own emotions, as well as the ability to be self-motivated, to feel what others feel, and to be socially skilled viewed as a powerful influence on success in life  Heredity, Environment, and Intelligence Stronger correlations are found between |Q scores as genetic relatedness increases Heritability of IQ is estimated at 0.50 Flynn effect - 1Q scores steadily increasing over time in modernized countries The Bell Curve - a book that made widely criticized claims about the heritability of intelligence stereotype threat  Heredity, Environment, and Intelligence Stronger correlations are found between |Q scores as genetic relatedness increases Heritability of IQ is estimated at 0.50 Flynn effect - 1Q scores steadily increasing over time in modernized countries The Bell Curve - a book that made widely criticized claims about the heritability of intelligence stereotype threat 04 Language  Language Language A system for combining symbols (such as words) so that an unlimited number of meaningful statements can be made for the purpose of communicating with others  Elements and Structure of Language Grammar The system of rules governing the structure and use of a language Phonemes The basic units of sound in a language Morphemes The smallest units of meaning within a language  Elements and Structure of Language Syntax The system of rules for combining words and phrases to form grammatically correct sentences Semantics Rules for determining the meaning of words and sentences Pragmatics Aspects of language involving the practical ways of communicating with others, or the social niceties of language  Language and Cognition Linguistic relativity hypothesis The theory that thought processes and concepts are controlled by language Cognitive universalism The theory that concepts are universal and influence the development of language  Animal Studies in Language Studies have been somewhat successful in demonstrating that animals can develop a basic kind of language, including some abstract ideas. Controversy exists over the lack of evidence that animals can learn syntax, which some feel means that animals are not truly learning and using language.  Ways to Improve Thinking Mental activities that require creativity and the use of memory abilities can help the brain fit: crossword puzzles reading books