Cognition and intelligence

Set and information processing

• we have a limited capacity to store and process info

• keeping track of more than one or two quantities results in overload

• we attend selectively to all input

Cognition

mental processes involved in thinking, knowing, perceiving, learning, and remembering, also the contents of these processes

Intelligence

the mental capacity to aquire knowledge, reason, and solve problems effectively

Good problem solvers are skilled at:

identifying the problem, selecting a strategy to solve it, working backwards (retracing steps), searching for analogies (comparing problem with something you already know), and breaking a big problem into smaller ones (chunking)

Standford-Binet Intelligence Scale: Lewis Terman of Stanford University

• 1st large scale of physiological testing during WW1; high score = more responsibilities, low score = errand runners/cooks

• based on Binet’s formula

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS - V) & Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Fifth Edition (WISC - V)

• verbal scale: vocab, writing, reading comprehension

• performance scale: block designs, how long it take to get out a maze

For an IQ test to count, who does the test have to be given by?

Psychologist or doctoral students (physiologists in training)

How do you calculate IQ?

Mental age (test age) / chronological age (actual age when test was took) X 100

What is the average IQ score?

100

Normal Distribution & Normal Range

• bell-shaped curve describing the spread of a characteristic throughout a population

• scores falling in approximately the middle 2/3 of a normal distribution

What else is based on the bell-shaped curve?

Life (ex: middle class, upper class, etc")

When are IQ increases typically seen?

ages 4-9, maybe 9-14; cannot work to improve IQ

Mental deficiency

often conceived as representing the lower 2% of IQ range

Giftedness

often conceived as representing the upper 2% of IQ range

Robert Sternberg’s components of intelligence

Practical, Analytical, Creative

Practical intelligence

ability to cope with the environment (street smarts: daddy in Jamaica and New York)

Analytical intelligence

ability to analyze problems and find correct answers; measured by most IQ tests (book smart: what Jade calls me)

Creative intelligence

helps people see new relationships among concepts, involves insight and creativity; anticipation needs of others before its there (ex: uber, youtube)

Howard Gardner’s 8 Intelligences

Linguistic, Logical-Mathematical, Spatial, Musical, Bodiliy-Kinesthetic, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, Naturalist

Linguistic

often measured on IQ tests with reading comprehension and vocab tests (may be skilled at vocab use or picking up languages)

Logical-Mathematical

often measured on IQ tests with analogies, math problems, and logical problems

Spatial

ability to form mental images of objects and think about their relationships in space (spatial: depth and perception and how objects fit in relation to space; visual: some learn best by visualizing things)

Musical

ability to perceive and create patterns of rhythms and pitches (musical instrument players, preference to learn rhytmatically)

Bodily-Kinesthetic

ability for controlled movement and coordination (athletes, some prefer learning hands on)

Interpersonal

ability to understand other peoples emotions, motives, and actions (social skills)

Intrapersonal

ability to know oneself and develop a sense of identity (understanding strengths and weaknesses, looking at high meaning of life as it relates to you; not letting outside opinions influence you)

Naturalist

ability to know and interact among diverse species (can survive in wilderness; others more inclined to the outdoors or get energy from it)

Cultural Definitions of Intelligence

someone born in pacific islands would place more significance in ability to navigate boat or SAT?

ability to navigate a boat

West Africa’s definition

intelligence viewed as having good social skills and memory

Native American culture’s definition

intelligence involves wisdom and respect for others

Gardner’s argument

intelligence has different meanings in different cultures thats suitable to that persons environment and what they’ve chosen to do for a living (skill set)

Hereditarian (nature) argument

intelligence is substantially influenced by biology and genetics (you inherit that genetic predisposition)

Environmental argument

intelligence can be dramatically shaped by influences such as health (good quality health and access), economics (money, resources that allow you to have health access and education), and education

What is the ratio of intelligence based on genetics and environment?

60% based on genetics and 40% based on environmental factors

Heritability and Group Differences example

historically white ppl score 10-15 points higher than black and hispanic people on standardized tests; taken with a grain of salt because of environmental factors: not everyone had the same access to resources, healthcare, education, etc

Racial and class differences based on:

health, economics, and education

What circumstance can cause someone to not be gifted anymore?

head injury/trauma

Geographical bias in IQ test example:

What piece of equipment used to shovel show? someone born in southern states wouldn’t know

Age bias in IQ test example:

If you were lost while driving, what would you use? Younger kids would say GPS, but answer is map