Psychology 2e Chapter 7: Thinking and Intelligence

These flashcards cover key concepts from Chapter 7 of Psychology 2e regarding thinking, intelligence, problem-solving, and language.

Cognitive psychology

The study of higher mental processes including thinking, language, memory, problem solving, knowing, reasoning, judging, and decision making.

Thinking

Brain activity in which people mentally manipulate information including words, visual images, sounds, or other data.

Concepts

Mental groupings of similar objects, events, or people which enable one to organize complex phenomena into cognitive categories that are easier to understand and remember.

Prototypes

Highly representative examples of a concept.

Deductive reasoning

A type of formal reasoning that moves from the general to the specific.

Inductive reasoning

A type of formal reasoning that moves from the specific to the general.

Algorithm

A rule that, if applied appropriately, guarantees a solution to a problem.

Heuristic

A strategy that may lead to a solution but may sometimes lead to errors.

Availability heuristic

Judging the probability of an event occurring based on how easily examples come to mind.

Familiarity heuristic

The tendency to see familiar items as superior to those that are unfamiliar.

Ill-defined problem

A problem where the nature of the problem and the information needed to solve it are unclear.

Well-defined problem

A problem where the nature of the problem and the information needed to solve it are clear.

Trial and error

A problem-solving strategy that involves attempting different solutions until one works.

Means-end analysis

A problem-solving strategy involving repeated tests for differences between the desired outcome and what currently exists.

Insight

Sudden awareness of the relationships among various elements that had previously appeared to be independent.

Functional fixedness

The tendency to think of an object only in terms of its typical use.

Confirmation bias

The tendency to find and apply information that supports one's initial solution or idea while ignoring contrary information.

Divergent thinking

The ability to generate unusual responses to problems.

Convergent thinking

The thought process that produces responses based primarily on knowledge and logic.

Cognitive complexity

Preference for elaborate, intricate, and complex stimuli and thinking patterns.

Language

Communication of information through symbols arranged according to systematic rules.

Grammar

System of rules that determines how our thoughts can be expressed.

Phonology

Study of the smallest units of speech called phonemes.

Syntax

Ways in which words and phrases can be combined to form sentences.

Semantics

The meaning of words and sentences.

Babble

Meaningless speech-like sounds made by children.

Telegraphic speech

Sentences in which only essential words are used.

Overgeneralization

When children over-apply a language rule, making a linguistic error.

Learning theory approach

The theory that language acquisition follows the principles of reinforcement and conditioning.

Nativist approach

The theory that humans are biologically pre-wired to learn language at certain times and in particular ways.

Interactionist approach

The theory that language development is a combination of genetically determined predispositions and environmental circumstances.

Intelligence

The capacity to understand the world, think rationally, and use resources effectively when faced with challenges.

Fluid intelligence

The ability to reason abstractly.

Crystallized intelligence

Accumulation of information, knowledge, and skills that assumes people learn through experience and education.

Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences

Proposes that there are eight distinct spheres of intelligence.

Emotional intelligence

Set of skills that underlie the accurate assessment, evaluation, expression, and regulation of emotions.

Reliability

The consistency of a test in measuring what it is intended to measure.

Validity

Whether a test measures what it is supposed to measure.

Norms

Standards of test performance that allow for comparisons of scores between individuals.

Intellectual Disabilities

Significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and adaptive skills.

Down syndrome

A genetic disorder caused by the presence of an extra chromosome 21.

Mainstreaming

Integrating special education students into regular classrooms.

Full inclusion

Total integration of all students, including those with disabilities, into regular classes.

Gifted children

The 2%–4% of the population who have IQ scores greater than 130, often excelling in various domains.

Heritability

The degree to which genetic factors influence traits such as intelligence.

The Flynn Effect

The observed rise in IQ scores over time across populations.