Thinking, Reasoning, & Language

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to thinking, reasoning, and language, as discussed in the lecture.

Thinking

Any mental activity or processing of information, including learning, remembering, perceiving, communicating, believing, and deciding.

Cognitive economy

Investing as little energy as possible in mental processing to streamline complex cognitive tasks.

Heuristics

Mental shortcuts used to interpret experiences and make judgments more quickly.

Representativeness heuristic

Judging the probability of an event based on how closely it matches past experiences or prototypes.

Availability heuristic

Estimating the likelihood of an occurrence based on how easily examples come to mind.

Hindsight bias

The tendency to overestimate how well one could have predicted an event after it has occurred.

Confirmation bias

The tendency to seek out evidence that supports existing beliefs while ignoring contradictory evidence.

Top-down processing

Filling in gaps of missing information using pre-existing knowledge and experience.

Linguistic determinism

The theory that language defines our thinking, meaning we cannot experience thought without language.

Linguistic relativity

The idea that characteristics of language shape our thought processes, influencing how we categorize and remember things.

Decision making

The process of selecting an option from multiple alternatives, involving evaluation of goals, risks, and constraints.

Framing effect

The influence that the way questions or information is presented has on the decision-making process.

Problem solving

Generating a cognitive strategy to achieve a specific goal, which requires identifying obstacles.

Algorithms

Step-by-step procedures that guarantee a solution, but can be slow and effortful.

Salience of surface similarities

Focusing on prominent features that can mislead problem-solving efforts.

Functional fixedness

The difficulty in seeing that an object can have multiple uses other than its typical function.

Computer model of mind

A theoretical perspective where the mind is likened to a computer in how it processes information.

Sign language

A visual language used by people, including those with hearing loss, that utilizes gestures instead of vocal sounds.

Critical period for language

A sensitive period in development when learning a language is most effective.

Nativist account of language acquisition

The theory that children are born with inherent knowledge about how language works.

Social pragmatics account of language acquisition

The idea that social interactions help children understand and learn language.

Animal communication

The various methods through which animals convey information, differing significantly in complexity compared to human language.

Speed reading

A method of reading that aims to improve speed but can often sacrifice comprehension.