PSYC 2000 EXAM 3 PERKINS LSU

What is the definition of cognition?

The mental process of integrating, organizing, and using conscious cognitive experiences.

What is cognitive psychology?

The field of psychology dedicated to examining how people think.

What are concepts in cognitive psychology?

Categories of information, ideas, images, or experiences that share common characteristics.

What is a prototype?

A strong example or representation of a concept that serves as the first thing that comes to mind.

What is a schema?

A mental collection of related concepts that organizes information and allows the brain to work more efficiently.

What is the definition of language?

A communication system using words and systematic rules to transmit information.

What is a lexicon?

The words of a given language, also known as vocabulary.

What is grammar?

The set of rules for organizing words to convey meaning.

What is the theory of linguistic determinism?

The theory that the language a person speaks largely determines the nature of their thoughts.

What is a phoneme?

The smallest distinctive sound unit in a spoken language.

What is a morpheme?

The smallest unit of language that conveys meaning.

What is semantics?

The process by which we derive meaning from words and morphemes.

What is syntax?

The system of rules for how words are organized into sentences.

What are pragmatics in language?

The practical aspects of communication, including social norms, turn-taking, and intonation.

What did Noam Chomsky propose regarding language acquisition?

That humans are born with a biological predisposition to acquire language.

What is a critical period in language acquisition?

A period early in life where proficiency at acquiring language is maximal.

What happens if language is deprived during the critical period?

It impedes the ability to fully acquire and use language.

How does the brain create thoughts from sensory input?

Senses pull information from the environment, which the brain synthesizes through perception.

What filters our thoughts?

Emotions and memories.

How are concepts used in cognition?

They help us see relationships among experiences and integrate new information.

What is the role of intonation in pragmatics?

It involves using rhythm and emphasis to convey specific meaning or social nuance.

How does the brain organize information into concepts?

By grouping similar information, ideas, or experiences into categories.

What is the primary function of a schema?

To allow the brain to make automatic assumptions based on known information, increasing efficiency.

What is a mental set in problem solving?

The tendency to persist in using problem-solving patterns that worked in the past.

What is functional fixedness?

A mental set where one thinks of objects only in terms of their intended design, making it difficult to think outside the box.

What is anchoring bias?

The tendency to focus on one specific piece of information when making a decision.

What is hindsight bias?

The belief that an event was predictable after it has already occurred.

What is confirmation bias?

The tendency to seek information that confirms existing beliefs while ignoring contradictory evidence.

What is representativeness bias?

Judging an event by how much it resembles a typical case, often leading to stereotyping.

What is the availability heuristic?

Making a decision based on information or examples that are most readily available or recently recalled.

What is divergent thinking?

Thinking outside the box to generate multiple unique solutions or possibilities for a problem.

What is convergent thinking?

The ability to provide a single, correct, or well-established solution to a problem.

How did Spearman define intelligence?

As a single general factor called 'g', representing the ability to reason and solve problems.

What is crystallized intelligence?

Acquired knowledge and the ability to retrieve facts and experiences.

What is fluid intelligence?

The natural ability to see complex relationships and solve new problems.

What are the three types of intelligence in Sternberg's Triarchic Theory?

Analytical, creative, and practical intelligence.

How many intelligences did Gardner propose in his theory?

At least eight distinct intelligences.

What is emotional intelligence?

The ability to understand, empathize, and regulate emotions in oneself and others.

What is the definition of test reliability?

The ability of a test to produce similar scores across multiple administrations.

What is the definition of test validity?

The extent to which a test measures what it is actually intended to measure.

What is the average IQ score on a normal distribution curve?

100.

What is the standard deviation for IQ tests?

15 points.

What IQ score range is considered average?

85 to 115 (one standard deviation above and below the mean).

What IQ score is generally considered the threshold for intellectual disability?

Below 70.

What IQ score is generally considered the threshold for giftedness?

Above 130.

What is the Flynn Effect?

The observation that each generation has a significantly higher IQ than the previous one.

What are two major factors that influence intelligence?

Nature (genetics) and nurture (environment).

What is developmental psychology?

The study of patterns of growth and change throughout the lifespan across physical, cognitive, and psychosocial domains.

What are the three domains of development?

Physical (body/brain), Cognitive (learning/memory), and Psychosocial (emotions/personality/social relationships).

What is the normative approach in psychology?

Using large-scale studies to determine the average ages at which children reach specific developmental milestones.

What is continuous development?

Development that occurs gradually and cumulatively, such as physical growth.

What is discontinuous development?

Development that occurs in unique, distinct stages at specific ages, such as cognitive ability.

How do nature and nurture influence development?

Nature refers to biology and genetics, while nurture refers to environment and culture; both contribute to development.

What is Freud's Psychosexual Theory?

A theory suggesting childhood experiences shape development through discontinuous stages based on pleasure-seeking urges.

What is Erikson's Psychosocial Theory?

A theory emphasizing the social nature of development across eight stages, each requiring the resolution of a specific psychosocial task.

What is the focus of the 'Basic Trust vs. Mistrust' stage?

Birth to 1 year; focuses on whether the infant can trust their caregiver to meet their needs.

What is the focus of the 'Identity vs. Confusion' stage?

Adolescence; focuses on the question 'Who am I?'

What is the focus of the 'Integrity vs. Despair' stage?

Later adulthood; focuses on reflecting on whether one lived a meaningful life.

What is a schema in Piaget's theory?

A mental model or framework used by children to understand and organize information about the world.

Define assimilation and accommodation.

Assimilation incorporates new info into existing schemata; accommodation changes schemata based on new information.

What is object permanence?

The understanding that objects continue to exist even when they are out of sight; developed in the sensorimotor stage.

What characterizes the Preoperational Stage?

Ages 2-6; use of symbols, pretend play, language development, egocentrism, and lack of conservation.

What is egocentrism in the preoperational stage?

The inability to see the world from anyone else's perspective.

What is conservation?

The understanding that changing the appearance of an object does not change its actual size or volume.

What characterizes the Concrete Operational Stage?

Ages 7-11; ability to perform logical operations and understand conservation, but limited to concrete events.

What characterizes the Formal Operational Stage?

Ages 12+; ability to reason abstractly and hypothetically.

What is Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory?

The belief that human development is rooted in culture, historical influences, and social interactions.

What are the three levels of Kohlberg's Moral Development?

Pre-conventional, Conventional, and Post-conventional.

What was Kohlberg's primary interest in the Heinz Dilemma?

He was interested in the reasoning behind the decision, not the 'yes' or 'no' answer itself.

What was Carol Gilligan's critique of Kohlberg?

She argued that men and women reason differently, with women focusing more on interpersonal relationships.

What is the 'Industry vs. Inferiority' stage?

Ages 7-11; focuses on competence and the question 'How can I be good?'

What is the 'Generativity vs. Stagnation' stage?

Middle adulthood; focuses on how one can contribute to the world.

What is the 'Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt' stage?

Ages 1-3; focuses on developing independence versus feeling helpless.

What is the rooting reflex?

An infant's tendency to turn their head toward a stimulus that touches their cheek.

What is the sucking reflex?

An automatic response where an infant sucks on objects placed near their mouth.

What is the grasping reflex?

An infant's tendency to cling to objects placed in their hands.

What is the Moro reflex?

An infant's response to feeling like they are falling, where they spread their arms and pull them back in.

What are fine motor skills?

Skills involving small muscle groups in fingers, toes, and eyes, enabling coordination of small actions.

What are gross motor skills?

Skills involving large muscle groups that control arms and legs for movements like running or jumping.

What is the 'blooming' period in brain development?

A period during infancy and toddlerhood where neural pathways form thousands of new connections.

What is the 'pruning' period in brain development?

A period during childhood and adolescence where neural connections are reduced to increase brain efficiency.

What is theory of mind?

The cognitive ability to understand that others have beliefs, desires, and perspectives different from one's own.

What is attachment?

A long-standing emotional connection or bond with others.

What is a secure base?

A parental presence that provides a child with a sense of safety while exploring their surroundings.

Describe secure attachment.

The child uses the parent as a secure base, shows distress when the parent leaves, and is happy upon their return.

Describe avoidant attachment.

The child is unresponsive to the parent, does not use them as a secure base, and shows little concern when the parent leaves.

Describe resistant/ambivalent attachment.

The child shows clingy behavior but rejects the parent's attempts to interact; they are difficult to comfort upon the parent's return.

Describe disorganized attachment.

The child shows odd or inconsistent behavior around the caregiver; often associated with abuse.

What characterizes authoritative parenting?

Reasonable demands, consistent limits, warmth, affection, and listening to the child's perspective.

What characterizes authoritarian parenting?

Strict, controlling, rules-oriented, and cold behavior.

What characterizes permissive parenting?

Few demands, few rules, nurturing/loving, and acting more like a friend than a parent.

What characterizes uninvolved parenting?

Indifference, neglect, few demands, and nonresponsiveness to the child's needs.

What is the primary function of the frontal lobe in adolescents?

It is responsible for judgment, impulse control, and planning.

What is cognitive empathy?

The ability to take the perspective of others and feel concern for them, also known as theory of mind.

What is emerging adulthood?

A developmental period from age 18 to the mid-20s focused on identity exploration in work and love.

What physical changes occur in middle adulthood?

Skin loses elasticity, visual acuity decreases, weight gain, hair thinning/graying, and menopause in women.

What are the five stages of grief?

Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance.

What factors contribute to 'successful aging'?

Active lifestyle, social interactions, strong family/friend ties, independence, and finding meaning in life.

What is the 'use it or lose it' principle in aging?

The concept that maintaining physical and cognitive activity is essential to preserving function during the aging process.

What is the primary focus of social psychology?

The study of how the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of individuals are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others.