Language

Language

A communication system that relies on patterns and rules of symbols.

Arbitrariness

The quality of symbols not matching the objects they represent; for instance, the word 'dog' does not describe what a dog looks like.

Phonemes

The smallest units of sound in a language.

Morphemes

The smallest unit of meaning in a language.

Syntax

A set of grammar rules used to construct sentences.

Extralinguistic information

Non-verbal and contextual cues that add meaning to language.

Dialect

Language variation used by a group who share geographic proximity or ethnic background.

Cognitive economy

Resources allocated to thinking and decision making.

Heuristics

Mental shortcuts that simplify decision making.

Oversimplification

The danger of heuristics, leading to incorrect attributions about a person or situation.

Tversky & Kahneman’s System 1

The automatic, snap judgments and actions made by the brain.

Tversky & Kahneman’s System 2

The analytical, slow, and controlled thinking process.

Representativeness heuristic

Making decisions based on how representative something is, often leading to judgments based on similarity or prototype.

Availability heuristic

Estimating likelihood of occurrence based on how readily available information is in our memories.

Hindsight bias

Overestimating how well we would have predicted something after it has occurred.

Framing

How information presentation affects decisions, often highlighting gains or losses.

Competing information

Failure to focus on important data when solving problems.

Mental sets

Getting caught up in a particular problem-solving strategy.

Functional fixedness

Difficulty in perceiving an object being used for something other than its intended purpose.

Trial and Error

A problem-solving method that involves trying different solutions until one works.

Algorithm

A step-by-step problem-solving formula.

Means-end analysis

Choosing and modifying actions in a series of smaller steps to achieve a larger goal.

Insight

The sudden realization of a solution to a problem.

Heuristics (strategies)

general problem solving formula (rule of thumb)

divide and conquer

break down large complex problems into smaller, more manageable problems

b/i/t

phonemes

replayed, played, playing

morphemes

BF Skinner

language learned through operant conditioning

Noam Chomsky

language is biologically determined

critical period

language development is maximized early in life

Prenatal

preference for mother’s voice

Babbling

~6 months, produce and repeat single syllabi

Comprehension vs Production

children comprehend basic language rules before being able to produce them

First words

~1 yr, produce and repeat single syllabi, holophrases

Telegraphic speech

~2 yrs, simple sentences, overgeneralization (‘goed’ vs ‘went’')

Conversations

~4-6 yrs, clear understanding of rules (grammar and syntax)

system 1 examples

tying shoes, understanding simple sentences and simple math, knowing if someone is being hostile towards you & associating Paris with France

system 2 examples

checking the validity of a complex logical argument, looking for someone in a train station, making yourself walk faster, looking for a spelling mistake in your assignment

base rates

how common something is