Cognition, Language, and Intelligence

These flashcards summarize key concepts related to cognition, language, and intelligence, as discussed in the lecture.

What is cognition?

The brain’s mental activity, including thinking, remembering, judgment and decision-making, problem-solving, and knowing.

What are mental representations?

Building blocks of thought that allow us to think about things that are physically absent, such as abstract concepts and entities that don’t exist.

Define concepts in cognition.

Mental representations of a group of things that categorize similar objects, ideas, or people.

What is a prototype?

The best example of a concept that encompasses the most typical features.

What are well-defined problems?

Problems with clear goals and clear options, such as algebra or Wordle.

What are ill-defined problems?

Problems with uncertain goals and options, such as choosing a career path or solving climate change.

What is an algorithm in problem-solving?

A step-by-step procedure that guarantees a solution to a problem.

What is insight in problem-solving?

A sudden understanding of a problem or solution that seems magical but involves unconscious cognition.

What is functional fixedness?

The tendency to rely on an object’s typical use, hindering the ability to see creative solutions.

What is the dual-processing theory?

The theory that we use two types of thinking for judgment and decision-making: an automatic system and a controlled system.

What is the representativeness heuristic?

Judging the likelihood of something based on how well it fits a prototype; opposite of stereotyping.

What is the availability heuristic?

Judging the likelihood of something based on how easily it comes to mind; events that come to mind more easily seem more common.

What is confirmation bias?

The tendency to look for evidence that confirms preexisting beliefs.

What is framing in decision-making?

The way situations are presented can influence judgment and decision-making.

What is the Linguistic Determinism Hypothesis?

The theory that language shapes our ideas and perceptions of reality.

What are phonemes?

The sounds that make up speech.

What is grammar?

The system of rules for using language to ensure communication is understood.

What are the stages of language acquisition in infants?

1-2 months: differentiate phonemes; 6 months: babbling; 10 months: babbling resembles native language; 2 years: two-word sentences.

Who theorized that humans are biologically prepared to learn language?

Linguist Noam Chomsky.