GenPsych - Chapter 7

Cognitive Psychology =

the study of thoughts and their relation to behavior and experience

Concept =

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

Prototypes =

best representations of a concept

Schema =

mental construct consisting of a cluster or collection of related concepts

Language =

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

6 Component of Language:

1. Lexicon

2. Grammar

3. Phoneme

4. Morphemes

5. Semantics

6. Syntax

Lexicon =

words of a given language

Grammar =

the set of rules that are used to convey meaning

Phoneme =

basic sound unit of a given language

Morphemes =

smallest units of language that convey some type of meaning

Semantics =

the process by which we derive meaning from morphemes and words

Syntax =

the way words are organized into sentences

Algorithms =

formulas that when applied correctly, guarantee accurate solutions

Heuristics =

mental shortcuts that can lead to correct solutions

Representativeness Heuristic =

involves deciding an event or outcome is more probable if it’s more similar to a prototypical example of that event or outcome

Availability Heuristic =

involves deciding something is more probably if other instances of it can be recalled more easily

Framing Effect =

occurs when we respond to the same problem differently depending on its wording

Analogical Problem Solving =

involves finding problems similar to the current problem and applying their solution to the current problem

Mental Set =

when you persist in approaching a problem in a way that has work in the past but isn’t working now

Functional Fixedness =

where you cannot perceive an object being used for something other than what it was designed for

Intelligence =

the ability to direct one’s thinking, adapt to circumstances, and learn from experience

Two-Factor Theory of Intelligence =

every task requires general mental ability (g) and task specific skills (s)

G =

general intelligence factor (overall cognitive ability)

Crystallized Intelligence =

acquired knowledge and the ability to retrieve it

Fluid Intelligence =

ability to see abstract relations and solve problems

Practical Intelligence =

ability to find solutions by applying knowledge based on experiences

Analytical Intelligence =

ability to engage in academic problem solving computations

Creative Intelligence =

ability to understand and visualize the world around us

Spatial Intelligence =

ability to understand and visualize the world around us

Emotional Intelligence =

ability to understand emotions in yourself and others, show empathy and regulate emotions

Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) Theory of Cognitive Abilities =

abilities are related and arranged in a hierarchy with general abilities at the top, broad abilities in the middle, and narrow (specific) abilities at the bottom

What’s the average IQ score?

100

What’s the standard deviation for IQ?

15

Standard Deviation =

describe the difference between a set of scores and its mean

What’s considered to be the normal range of IQ scores?

Between 70 and 130

At what IQ is one considered gifted?

An IQ > 130

At what IQ can one possess an intellectual disability?

An IQ < 70

Mental Age =

the age for which a given level of performance is typical

Ratio IQ =

(mental age / physical age) * 100

Deviation IQ =

obtained by dividing an IQ test score by the average score of test takers of the same and multiplying by 100

What are two popular IQ tests discussed in class?

1. Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale

2. The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-IV)

How does cultural bias influence IQ tests?

IQ tests measure knowledge from certain cultures, so they’re biased in favor of test takers from those cultures

How can the IQ testing situation be culturally biased?

Social Identity (Stereotype) Threat = when fear of confirming a stereotype impairs performance in an area related to the stereotype (anxiety causes fear, impairing performance)

How do we reduce cultural bias in IQ tests?

• Include culturally fair questions

• Reduce reliance on verbal tasks

How do we reduce social identity threat in IQ testing?

tell test takers their performance wont be evaluated

Flynn Effect =

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

How much higher do high SES children tend to score on IQ tests than low SES children?

12 - 18 points higher, because they have more access to education

Dysgraphia =

learning disability that causes extreme difficulty in writing legibly

Dyslexia =

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

Dyscalculia =

learning disability that causes difficulty in learning or comprehending mathematics