UW-Madison Psychology 202 Exam 3 Dr. Gallimore

algorithm

problem-solving strategy characterized by a specific set of instructions

analytical intelligence

aligned with academic problem solving and computations

anchoring bias

faulty heuristic in which you fixate on a single aspect of a problem to find a solution

artificial concept

concept that is defined by a very specific set of characteristics

availability heuristic

faulty heuristic in which you make a decision based on information readily available to you

cognition

thinking, including perception, learning, problem solving, judgment, and memory

cognitive psychology

field of psychology dedicated to studying every aspect of how people think

cognitive script

set of behaviors that are performed the same way each time; also referred to as an event schema

concept

category or grouping of linguistic information, objects, ideas, or life experiences

confirmation bias

faulty heuristic in which you focus on information that confirms your beliefs

convergent thinking

providing correct or established answers to problems

creative intelligence

ability to produce new products, ideas, or inventing a new, novel solution to a problem

creativity

ability to generate, create, or discover new ideas, solutions, and possibilities

crystallized intelligence

characterized by acquired knowledge and the ability to retrieve it

cultural intelligence

ability with which people can understand and relate to those in another culture

divergent thinking

ability to think "outside the box" to arrive at novel solutions to a problem

dysgraphia

learning disability that causes extreme difficulty in writing legibly

dyslexia

common learning disability in which letters are not processed properly by the brain

emotional intelligence

ability to understand emotions and motivations in yourself and others

event schema

set of behaviors that are performed the same way each time; also referred to as a cognitive script

fluid intelligence

ability to see complex relationships and solve problems

Flynn effect

observation that each generation has a significantly higher IQ than the previous generation

functional fixedness

inability to see an object as useful for any other use other than the one for which it was intended

grammar

set of rules that are used to convey meaning through the use of a lexicon

heuristic

mental shortcut that saves time when solving a problem

hindsight bias

belief that the event just experienced was predictable, even though it really wasn't

intelligence quotient

score on a test designed to measure intelligence

language

communication system that involves using words to transmit information from one individual to another

lexicon

the words of a given language

mental set

continually using an old solution to a problem without results

morpheme

smallest unit of language that conveys some type of meaning

Multiple Intelligences Theory

Gardner's theory that each person possesses at least eight types of intelligence

natural concept

mental groupings that are created "naturally" through your experiences

norming

administering a test to a large population so data can be collected to reference the normal scores for a population and its groups

overgeneralization

extension of a rule that exists in a given language to an exception to the rule

phoneme

basic sound unit of a given language

practical intelligence

aka "street smarts"

problem-solving strategy

method for solving problems

prototype

best representation of a concept

range of reaction

each person's response to the environment is unique based on his or her genetic make-up

representative bias

faulty heuristic in which you stereotype someone or something without a valid basis for your judgment

representative sample

subset of the population that accurately represents the general population

role schema

set of expectations that define the behaviors of a person occupying a particular role

schema

(plural = schemata) mental construct consisting of a cluster or collection of related concepts

semantics

process by which we derive meaning from morphemes and words

standard deviation

measure of variability that describes the difference between a set of scores and their mean

standardization

method of testing in which administration, scoring, and interpretation of results are consistent

syntax

manner by which words are organized into sentences

trial and error

problem-solving strategy in which multiple solutions are attempted until the correct one is found

triarchic theory of intelligence

Sternberg's theory of intelligence; three facets of intelligence: practical, creative, and analytical

working backwards

heuristic in which you begin to solve a problem by focusing on the end result

accommodation

adjustment of a schema by changing a scheme to accommodate new information different from what was already known

adolescence

period of development that begins at puberty and ends at early adulthood

adrenarche

maturing of the adrenal glands

advance directive

a written legal document that details specific interventions a person wants (see living will)

assimilation

adjustment of a schema by adding information similar to what is already known

attachment

long-standing connection or bond with others

authoritarian parenting style

parents place a high value on conformity and obedience, are often rigid, and express little warmth to the child

authoritative parenting style

parents give children reasonable demands and consistent limits, express warmth and affection, and listen to the child's point of view

avoidant attachment

characterized by child's unresponsiveness to parent, does not use the parent as a secure base, and does not care if parent leaves

cognitive development

domain of lifespan development that examines learning, attention, memory, language, thinking, reasoning, and creativity

cognitive empathy

ability to take the perspective of others and to feel concern for others

conception

when a sperm fertilizes an egg and forms a zygote

concrete operational stage

third stage in Piaget's theory of cognitive development; from about 7 to 11 years old, children can think logically about real (concrete) events

conservation

idea that even if you change the appearance of something, it is still equal in size, volume, or number as long as nothing is added or removed

continuous development

view that development is a cumulative process: gradually improving on existing skills

critical (sensitive) period

time during fetal growth when specific parts or organs develop

developmental milestone

approximate ages at which children reach specific normative events

discontinuous development

view that development takes place in unique stages, which happen at specific times or ages

disorganized attachment

characterized by the child's odd behavior when faced with the parent; type of attachment seen most often with kids that are abused

egocentrism

preoperational child's difficulty in taking the perspective of others

embryo

multi-cellular organism in its early stages of development

emerging adulthood

newly defined period of lifespan development from 18 years old to the mid-20s; young people are taking longer to complete college, get a job, get married, and start a family

fine motor skills

use of muscles in fingers, toes, and eyes to coordinate small actions

formal operational stage

final stage in Piaget's theory of cognitive development; from age 11 and up, children are able to deal with abstract ideas and hypothetical situations

gonadarche

maturing of the sex glands

gross motor skills

use of large muscle groups to control arms and legs for large body movements

menarche

beginning of menstrual period; around 12-13 years old

mitosis

process of cell division

motor skills

ability to move our body and manipulate objects

nature

genes and biology

newborn reflexes

inborn automatic response to a particular form of stimulation that all healthy babies are born with

normative approach

study of development using norms, or average ages, when most children reach specific developmental milestones

nurture

environment and culture

object permanence

idea that even if something is out of sight, it still exists

permissive parenting style

parents make few demands and rarely use punishment

physical development

domain of lifespan development that examines growth and changes in the body and brain, the senses, motor skills, and health and wellness

placenta

structure connected to the uterus that provides nourishment and oxygen to the developing baby

prenatal care

medical care during pregnancy that monitors the health of both the mother and the fetus

primary sexual characteristics

organs specifically needed for reproduction

preoperational stage

second stage in Piaget's theory of cognitive development; from ages 2 to 7, children learn to use symbols and language but do not understand mental operations and often think illogically

psychosexual development

process proposed by Freud in which pleasure-seeking urges focus on different erogenous zones of the body as humans move through five stages of life

psychosocial development

domain of lifespan development that examines emotions, personality, and social relationships

psychosocial development

process proposed by Erikson in which social tasks are mastered as humans move through eight stages of life from infancy to adulthood

reversibility

principle that objects can be changed, but then returned back to their original form or condition

secondary sexual characteristics

physical signs of sexual maturation that do not directly involve sex organs

resistant attachment

characterized by the child's tendency to show clingy behavior and rejection of the parent when she attempts to interact with the child

secure attachment

characterized by the child using the parent as a secure base from which to explore

secure base

parental presence that gives the infant/toddler a sense of safety as he explores his surroundings

socioemotional selectivity theory

social support/friendships dwindle in number, but remain as close, if not more close than in earlier years