PSYC Exam 2 - Cognition and Language

Concepts

Basic building blocks of abstract thought, refers to mental groupings of similar persons, places, ideas, events, or objects.

Semantic Networks

Concepts stored as organized hierarchies in long-term memory.

Priming Concepts

When one concept in our semantic network is activated, other closely related concepts pop into mind (Meyer and Schvaneveldt - 1971).

Prototypes

“Typical” member of a category

Mental Images

Image created in the mind

Mental Models

Intuitive theories of the way things work (when accurate, it can be useful).

Trial-and-error

Aimless, hit or miss approach to problem solving. Simple, but not the most effective.

Algorithms

Step-by-step procedure that guarantees (eventually) to produce a solution. Requires lots of possibilities.

Heuristics

Mental shortcuts, rule of thumb that may or may not lead to solution. More error prone than algorithms.

Insight

Pops into ones mind.

“Blind Spots” in Problem Solving

Can compromise problem solving.

Representation Failures

Belief that problems have no solutions, often people suffer psychologically because they believe problems have no solution.

Functional Fixedness

Thinking of an object only in terms of its usual function.

Mental Sets

Inability to view problems from a fresh perspective. But we should be able to view problems from a fresh perspective.

Confirmation Bias

Seeking only confirmatory, not contradictory, evidence. But to be effective, you should seek out evidence that refutes your beliefs.

Belief Perseverance

Clinging to initial beliefs even after discredited, tend not to revise beliefs.

Representativeness Heuristic

Judge likelihood by how typical event seems.

Availability Heuristic

Judge likelihood by how easily event comes to mind.

Anchoring Effects

Use one stimulus as “reference point” for judgement.

Framing Effect

Influenced by the way an issue is worded.

Language

Spoken, written, or signed words and the ways we combine them to communicate meaning.

Adaptive Value

Usefulness of a genetic or behavioral trait in helping an organism survive in an environment (ex; ants send chemical signal for food and enemies).

Semanticity

Language is used to convey meaning

Phonemes

Basic sounds, building blocks of all basic language.

Morphemes

Smallest units that carry meaning (ex; un-think-able has 3).

Generativity

Create infinite variety of novel expressions. based on grammar (semantics and syntax).

Grammar

System of rules that allow us to communicate with others.

Syntax

Rules of grammar that govern the arrangement if rules in a sentence.

Displacement

Using language to communicate about things other than what is in our immediate experience.

Operant Conditioning

We apply learning principles to language development, includes association, imitation, and reinforcement (B.F Skinner).

Inborn Universal Grammar

Children acquire language that is too extraordinary to be explained (Noam Chomsky).