PSY100H1 - Chapter 10 Examples

Broca’s area

A stroke in Broca’s area causes someone to speak in short, broken sentences

Wernicke’s area

Damage here makes someone speak fluently but with nonsense words

Non-fluent (Broca’s) aphasia

Someone says “uh… dog… walk…” while knowing what they want to say

Fluent (Wernicke’s) aphasia

Someone speaks in long sentences that sound normal but make no sense

Bilingualism/Multilingualism

A person who speaks English and French fluently

Linguistic determinism

A language without past tense may lead speakers to think less about past events

Linguistic relativism

People who speak languages with many color words notice color shades better

Cognition

Solving a math problem in your head

Analogical representation

Using a mental picture of a map to find directions

Symbolic representation

Reading the word “cat” and knowing it means an animal

Concept

Grouping all types of chairs together in your mind

Defining attributes model

Identifying a shape as a square because it has four equal sides

Prototype model

Thinking of a robin as your “typical bird

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Exemplar model

Recognizing a new type of dog by comparing it to dogs you've seen

Taxonomic categorization

Grouping animals like dogs, cats, and rabbits together

Thematic categorization

Grouping a dog and a bone because they go together

Analytic thinking style

Noticing the exact size, shape, and features of an object

Holistic thinking style

Focusing on how objects fit into the whole scene

Deductive reasoning

All humans need water → you are human → you need water

Inductive reasoning

Seeing many rude drivers and assuming drivers in that city are rude

Decision making

Choosing which meal to order at a restaurant

Satisficers

Picking the first coat that fits and looks okay

Maximizers

Looking at every store to find the “perfect” coat

Algorithm

Following a recipe step-by-step to bake cookies

Heuristics

Guessing the quickest route home instead of checking every street

Availability heuristic

Thinking plane crashes are common because you saw one on the news

Representativeness heuristic

Assuming someone who is quiet and bookish is a librarian

Recognition heuristic

Choosing a known brand over one you've never heard of

Affect heuristic

Choosing a dessert because it “feels good,” not because it's healthy

Framing effects

Preferring meat labeled “90% lean” instead of “10% fat

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Problem

Wanting to pass a test but not understanding the content

Problem-solving

Creating a study plan to prepare for the test

Mental set

Using the same method to solve a math problem even when a faster method exists

Functional fixedness

Not realizing you can use a coin as a screwdriver

Intelligence

Solving new problems and adapting to challenges

Eugenics

Promoting selective breeding to increase “desirable” human traits

Psychometrics

Using IQ tests to measure thinking ability

IQ

Scoring 110 on an IQ test compared to the average of 100

Flynn effect

Modern students scoring higher on IQ tests than students decades ago

General intelligence (g)

Someone good at math also tends to be good at reasoning and puzzles

Crystallized intelligence

Remembering vocabulary words for a test

Fluid intelligence

Figuring out a new puzzle without prior knowledge

Normal curve

Most people score near the average on IQ tests, with fewer high or low scores

Factor analysis

Finding that many math problems measure two factors

Dysrationalia

A highly intelligent person falling for scams or conspiracy theories

Growth mindset

Believing you can get better at math through practice

Fixed mindset

Believing you're “just bad at math” and can’t improve

Analytical intelligence

Solving logic puzzles quickly

Practical intelligence

Knowing how to fix a flat tire on your bike

Creative intelligence

Coming up with an original idea for a project

Successful intelligence

Using creativity, logic, and practical skills to run a business

Gardner’s multiple intelligences

Someone strong in music but weak in math

Emotional intelligence

Staying calm during an argument and understanding others’ feelings