E2: Cognitive #2

Q: What are Functional Fixedness and Duncker’s Candle Problem?

• Functional Fixedness is a cognitive bias that limits a person’s ability to use an object in an unconventional way.

• Duncker’s Candle Problem is a task where participants are asked to attach a candle to a wall using a box of matches and a candle, but the box must also hold the candle upright. The solution involves using the box as a platform.

Q: What were the findings of research on whether labels help or hurt memory for pictures?

A: Research found that labels generally improve memory for pictures. When pictures are labeled, it gives the brain more context to associate with the image, leading to better recall. However, over-simplifying or using incorrect labels can hinder memory and comprehension.

Q: What is linguistic determinism?

A: Linguistic determinism is the hypothesis that language completely shapes and limits human thought. It suggests that people can only think in ways that their language allows.

Q: What is linguistic relativity?

A: Linguistic relativity is the theory that language influences, but does not entirely determine, the way people perceive and think about the world. It suggests that speakers of different languages may experience the world differently because their languages offer different ways of categorizing experience.

Q: What are the conditions for a proper test of linguistic relativity?

A: A proper test of linguistic relativity should include:

1. Cross-linguistic comparison of speakers of different languages.

2. Controlled experiments to isolate linguistic effects on thought.

3. Cultural factors should be accounted for.

4. Behavioral data (not just subjective reports).

Q: Why was so much research done with colors?

A: Research on color perception and language was often used to test linguistic relativity because color terms vary across languages, making it a useful area to explore whether language influences perception and categorization of color.

Q: Describe the research done with the Tarahumara and what its findings tell us about linguistic relativity.

A: Research with the Tarahumara, a group of indigenous people in Mexico, showed that their language has fewer color terms compared to English. The findings suggest that the Tarahumara may perceive colors less distinctly than speakers of languages with many color terms, supporting the idea that language can influence perception.

Q: What is the current psychological view on the question of whether language affects how we reason and remember about the world?

A: The current view in psychology is moderate. Most researchers agree that language influences how we categorize, reason, and remember the world, but it doesn’t rigidly determine it. Cognitive processes like memory and reasoning are influenced by a complex interaction of language, culture, and experience.