Chapter 10: cognition PYSCH100

What is the nature perspective of language (Chomsky)?

• Language is innate

• humans are born with a Language Acquisition Device (LAD

What is the nurture perspective of language (Skinner)?

Language is learned through operant conditioning (reinforcement & punishment).

A child learns to say “thank you” because they get praised. Which theory?

Nurture (Skinner – reinforcement).

What did the Genie case demonstrate?

There is a critical period for language development.

Why couldn’t Genie fully develop language later in life?

She missed the critical period + lacked social interaction.

What is the emergentist view?

Language develops from multiple interacting processes (biology + environment).

What was the old belief about bilingualism?

It decreased intelligence.

What are modern findings about bilingualism?

• Improves mental flexibility

• executive control

• delays dementia

Why might bilingual people switch tasks faster?

Better executive control

Function of Broca’s area?

Speech production

Function of Wernicke’s area?

Language comprehension

Aphasia

Language impairment affecting speech production and/or comprehension.

Someone speaks in broken sentences but understands others. Damage where?

Broca’s area

Someone speaks fluently but makes no sense. Damage where?

Wernicke’s area

What is linguistic determinism?

Language determines thought (strong)

What is linguistic relativism?

Language influences thought (weak).

You notice more shades of snow because your language has many words for it.

Linguistic relativism.

mental representation

Internal symbol of reality.

analogical representation

resembles objects (images)

symbolic representation

abstract (words, numbers)

using a map in your head to navigate

analogical representation

mental rotation

rotating mental images; more rotation = longer response time

categorization

grouping things based on shared features

concept

mental grouping of similar objects/events

what is the basic level category

most natural and commonly used level (e.g apple)

label the levels: fruit, apple, granny smith

suberordinate, basic, subordinate

classical model

categories defined by strict rules

prototype model

based on “best example” of category

exemplar model

based on memory of specific examples

you decide something is a bird because it looks like your idea of a “typical bird”

prototype model

you compare an animal to specific birds you’ve seen before.

exemplar model

western thinking style

analytic, rule-based

eastern thinking style?

holistic, relationship based

reasoning (logical thinking)

using information to determine if a conclusion is valid (deductive vs inductive)

decision making

choosing the best option

problem solving

overcoming obstacles

maximizer

best option

satisfier

good enough

someone spends hours choosing the best laptop. Maximizer or satisfier?

maximizer

somatic marker hypothesis

emotions guide decision making

example of somatic marker

you feel uneasy about a choice and avoid it

how does emotion affect fake news

• increases belief

• reduce accuracy

prebunking

prevent

debunking

correct after

heuristic

mental shortcuts

availability heuristic

based on what comes easily to mind

representativeness heuristic

based on similarity to prototype

you think plane crashes are common because you see them in news example

availability heuristic

framing effect

decisions change based on presentation (gain vs loss)

intelligence

ability to learn, solve problems and adapt

validity

accuracy

reliability

consistency

general intelligence (g)

one underlying factor of intelligence

fluid intelligence

problem-solving, logic

crystallized intelligence

knowledge and experience

who created mental age

binet and simon

who developed the IQ formula

Terman

Sternberg’s triarchic theory?

Analytical, creative, practical

Gardner’s theory?

Multiple intelligences.

What is EQ?

Understanding and managing emotions.

What is dysrationalia?

Poor reasoning despite high intelligence.