Chapter 9: Language and Thinking

Creativity

Creativity

Is the ability to produce something that is both new and valuable.

Schema

A is a mental framework, an organized pattern of thought about some aspect of the world.

Generativity

Means that the symbols of language can be combined to generate an infinite number of messages that have novel meaning.

Algorithms

Are formulas or precise sequences of procedures that automatically generate solutions.

Confirmation bias

Tending to look for evidence that will confi rm what they currently believe rather than looking for evidence that could disconfi rm their beliefs.

Overconfidence

The tendency to overestimate ones correctness in factual knowledge, beliefs, and decisions.

Pragmatics

A knowledge of the practical aspects of using language.

Concepts

Basic units of semantic memory- mental categoties into which we place objects, activities, abstractions, and events that have essential features in common.

Displacement

Refers to the fact that language allows us to communicate about events and objects that are not physically present.

Morphemes

The smallest units of meaning in a language.

Speech Segmentation

Perceiving where each word within a spoken sentence begins and ends.

Representativeness Heuristic

We think about how closely something fi ts our prototype for that particular concept, or class, and therefore how likely it is to be a member of that class.

Divergent Thinking

The generation of novel ideas that depart from the norm.

Wisdom

Is a system of rich, expert knowledge about fundamental matters of life.

Psycholinguistics

Is the scientific study of the psychological aspects of language.

Grammar

Is the set of rules that dictates how symbols can be combined to create meaningful units of communication.

Mental Representations

Include images, ideas, concepts, and principles.

Heuristics

Are general problem- solving strategies, similar to mental rules- of- thumb, that we apply to certain classes of situations.

Incubation

Processing a problem, presumably at a subconscious level, while doing some other activity.

Bottom-up Processing

Individual elements of a stimulus are analyzed and then combined to form a unified perception.

Bilinualism

The regular use of two languages.

Syntax

The rules that govern the order of words.

Proposition thought

Expresses a proposition, or statement.

Functional Fixedness

The tendency to be so fi xed in their perception of the proper function of an object or procedure that they are blinded to new ways of using it.

Phonological awareness

To refer to this overall awareness of the sound structure of ones language.

Surface Structure

Consists of the symbols that are used and their order.

Means-ends Analysis

Involves identifying differences between the present situation and a desired goal, and then making changes that reduce these differences

Top Down Processing

Sensory information is interpreted in light of existing knowledge, concepts, ideas, and expectations

Deductive Reasoning

We reason from the top down, that is, from general principles to a conclusion about a specific case.

Deep Structure

Refers to the underlying meaning of the combined symbols.

Motoric Thought

Relates to mental representation of motor movements.

Subgoal analysis

Formulating subgoals, or intermediate steps, toward a solution.