PSYCH | LANGUAGE

Review of Intelligence

• Intelligence Definition: Hard to define, similar to pornography - easy to recognize but hard to articulate.

• Various attempts by psychologists to define intelligence:

  • Spearman's g: General Intelligence (g) which encompasses overlaps in various cognitive abilities and can be quantified through IQ tests.

  • IQ Score Calculation: IQ = (Mental Age / Chronological Age) x 100.

    • Each person has a fixed IQ that generally does not change without significant brain injury.

• Types of Intelligence:

  • Fluid Intelligence: The ability to think logically and solve problems in novel situations, independent of acquired knowledge.

  • Crystallized Intelligence: Knowledge gained from experience and education (e.g., facts about psychology or geometry).

• Major Theorists (test material):

  • Spearman (g factor)

  • Gardner: Eight types of intelligence, including interpersonal, intrapersonal, naturalistic, and bodily-kinesthetic.

  • Sternberg: Three types of intelligence: analytical, creative, and practical.

• Limitations of IQ:

  • IQ tests measure potential but do not define how intelligence will be applied in real-world situations.

  • High IQ does not guarantee success; drive, desire, and emotional intelligence (EQ) significantly influence outcomes.

• Emotional Intelligence (EQ):

  • Handling of situations, interpersonal skills, the ability to work collaboratively.

  • Important in job interviews and outperforming others with similar intelligence levels.

• Cultural and Systemic Bias in IQ:

  • IQ tests often reflect cultural and socio-economic biases, potentially disadvantaging certain groups.

• Historical Context of IQ Testing:

  • Originated in military settings during WWI to evaluate soldiers' cognitive ability, particularly for roles such as pilots.

  • Issues with test restrictions based on perceived capabilities.

Language Acquisition

• Human Unique Ability: Humans possess the ability to produce complex language, unlike any other species. Animals may communicate but do not create or understand complex ideas.

• Key Figures in Language Theory (test material):

  • Noam Chomsky: Introduced the concept of the Language Acquisition Device (LAD), innate to humans, allowing for language development.

  • Behaviorists: Argue language is learned through conditioning, modeling, and reinforcement.

• Language and Communication Distinction: Language implies the ability to express complex concepts, whereas communication can be simple and immediate, driven by basic needs.

• Phonemes vs. Morphemes:

  • Phoneme: Smallest unit of sound, lacks meaning.

  • Morpheme: Smallest unit of language with meaning (e.g., 'dog', 'run'). First appears around 3-6 months of age.

• Language Development Timeline:

  • Infancy (0-3 months): Cooing (simple sounds, not meaningful).

  • 3 to 6 months: Babbling (morphemes begin, sounds with meaning).

  • 12 months: First words (simple nouns).

  • 18 months: Vocabulary explosion; rapid word acquisition (learning several words daily).

  • 2 years: Begin forming two-word phrases (telegraphic speech).

  • 3 years: Full sentences emerge.

  • 4 years: Near-complete adult understanding of language; comprehension exceeds production.

• Bilingualism: Growing up in a bilingual environment may delay initial language acquisition due to processing multiple languages, but comprehension improves with age.

• Language Disorders: Understanding developmental milestones is significant. Delays can indicate conditions like autism, identified by lack of speech at age two.

Important Concepts and Terminology for Exam

• Fluid Intelligence

• Crystallized Intelligence

• Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

• Language Acquisition Device (LAD)

• Phonemes

• Morphemes

• Telegraphic Speech

• Behaviorism vs. Nativism

• Aphasia Types (Broca's area; Wernicke's area)