Study Notes: Cognition, Intelligence, and Language

Psychology 100: Cognition (Thinking, Intelligence & Language)

Coursework and Deadlines

  • A4 Cognition Worksheet

    • Due: Friday, Nov 7 by 4 PM
    • Contents:
    • 4 questions based on lecture material
    • Must respond with about a paragraph for each question
    • Emphasis on interpretation; no strictly "correct answers" but must demonstrate understanding of concepts

  • Extra Credit Opportunity

    • Survey to be available after class, seeking anonymous feedback on midterm and course progress.
    • Deadline: Also due by Friday, Nov 7.
    • Extra Credit Details:
    • 60% participation = 0.5 EC for all
    • 75% participation = 1 EC for all
    • 90% participation = 1.5 EC for all

Computational Theory of Mind

  • Definition: Cognitive science considers the brain as an information-processing device composed of three stages:
    1. Inputs
    2. Processing
    3. Outputs

Thinking (About Thinking)

Dual System of Thinking

  • System 1:

    • Characteristics:
    • Fast
    • Effortless
    • Automatic
    • Unconscious
    • This system is the default for most cognitive tasks.

  • System 2:

    • Characteristics:
    • Slow
    • Effortful
    • Requires concentration and attention
    • Conscious involvement
    • Can provoke physiological changes (e.g., increased heart rate)
Example Problem on Thinking
  • Problem:
    • A ball and a bat costs $1.10 total. The bat costs $1 more than the ball. How much does the ball cost?
    • Choices:
    • $0.10
    • $1.00
    • $1.05
    • $0.05
  • Common Mistake: Many may incorrectly choose $0.10 based on quick intuition.
Heuristics in Fast Thinking
  • Definition: Mental shortcuts that facilitate quick problem-solving and judgment.
  • Importance: Crucial for navigating potentially dangerous and ambiguous environments.
    • Evolutionarily advantageous.
  • Caveat: Despite their utility, these shortcuts can frequently lead to biased thinking.
Availability Heuristic
  • Definition: A cognitive bias that allows individuals to judge how frequently something occurs based on the ease with which examples come to mind.
  • Example: The heightened awareness of breast cancer in discussions about women’s health risks.
Risk Perception
  • Why are certain risks, like terrorist attacks, much feared?
    • The availability heuristic makes us more fearful of dramatic, media-covered events compared to more mundane risks like auto accidents.
Confirmation Bias
  • Definition: A cognitive bias where individuals focus on information that confirms their pre-existing beliefs and ignore evidence that contradicts them.
    • Leads to belief persistence despite counter-evidence.
Representativeness Heuristic
  • Definition: The cognitive process of categorizing new information based on how closely it aligns with existing mental prototypes.
Continuous Cognitive Change
  • Schema: A mental framework for categorizing and interpreting the world around us.
    • Development driven by three processes:
    • Equilibration: Achieving balance between new experiences and existing schemas.
    • Assimilation: Integrating new information into existing schemas.
    • Accommodation: Changing schemas to fit new information.
Summary of Thinking Processes
  • Algorithms:
    • Definition: Step-by-step procedures or formulas for solving problems.
    • Characteristics: Slower but reliable when applicable.
  • Heuristics:
    • Definition: General rules or mental shortcuts for problem-solving.
    • Characteristics: Faster but not always reliable.

Intelligence

General Intelligence (g)
  • Concept proposed by Charles Spearman suggesting a general intelligence factor relates to both academic aptitude and creativity in solving problems.
    • Noted correlation between high scores in one cognitive domain with high scores in others.
Intelligence Quotient (IQ)
  • Definition: Measure of mental age (MA) relative to chronological age (True Age, TA).
    • Formula: IQ=MATA×100IQ = \frac{MA}{TA} \times 100
    • If MA = TA, then IQ = 100
  • Significance: IQ tests (like the Stanford-Binet scale) aim to identify exceptional needs in educational settings.
    • Stanford-Binet Scale was originally developed by Alfred Binet and later revised by Lewis Terman.
IQ Statistics
  • Average IQ score = 100
  • Standard deviation (SD) = 15
  • Approximately 16% of the population scored more than one standard deviation above average.
Historical Perspective on Intelligence Testing: Phrenology
  • Definition: Discredited practice measuring skull bumps to predict psychological traits.
  • Characteristics:
    • Considered a pseudoscience; showed some insight into localized brain functions.
    • Misused to justify social hierarchies and discrimination (e.g., racism, sexism).
Eugenics Movement and IQ
  • Notable Figures:
    • H.H. Goddard introduced terms like ‘moron’ and ‘idiot’.
  • Ethical implications surrounding the use of IQ scores to justify eugenics and sterilizations against marginalized populations.
Environmental and Genetic Influences on IQ
  • Twin Studies: Showed both genetic heritability and environmental factors affect intelligence.
    • Correlation indicates a strong genetic component between siblings.
Robert Sternberg's Theories
  • Triarchic Theory of Successful Intelligence:
    • Proposes three independent types of intelligence:
    • Analytical Intelligence: Problem-solving capabilities.
    • Practical Intelligence: Real-world problem-solving skills.
    • Creative Intelligence: Ability to generate novel ideas.
Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
  • Components:
    1. Recognizing and controlling one’s emotions.
    2. Empathizing with the emotions of others.
  • Relevance: High EQ is linked to success in social situations, conflict resolution, and leadership roles.
Animal Intelligence
  • Variability across species:
    • Examples may include concept formation, insight, self-recognition, and tool use.
    • Studies: Research, such as that by Wolfgang Köhler in 1917, showed cognitive abilities in animals.
Language
  • Definition: Language is a symbolic process characterized by rules within a structured system (grammar).
  • Properties of Genuine Language:
    • Generativity: Ability to create an infinite number of phrases from a limited set of words.
    • Recursion: Expanding sentences to express new ideas.
    • Displacement: Communicating about non-present ideas or objects.
Theories of Language Acquisition
  1. Behaviorist Perspective (B.F. Skinner):
    • Language learned through associations, imitation, and reinforcement.
  2. Nativist Perspective (Noam Chomsky):
    • Suggests a biological language acquisition device enabling understanding of universal grammar.
  3. Interactionist Explanation:
    • Highlights the role of social interactions and learning in language acquisition.
Human vs. Animal Language
  • Discussion on whether language is unique to humans, highlighting the limitations of animal communication (e.g., apes).
  • Case Study: Kanzi the Bonobo and his comprehension of language structure and communication.
Conclusion on Language
  • Language remains a species-specific trait that relies heavily on the unique structure and capabilities of the human brain. Communication in animals, while sophisticated, does not meet the criteria for true language, which encompasses generativity, recursion, and displacement.