Module 34
34-1 – Define cognition, and describe
the functions of concepts
• Cognition: Thinking, knowing, remembering,
communicating, & dreaming
• Concepts: Mental groupings
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Conjunctive: constant rule structure (what is bird)
Disjunctive: contains alternate set of attributes (what is a strike)
Relational: depends on relationships (who is aunt)
Concepts learned through example/non-example
• Prototypes: Best example
– Stereotype: rigid, oversimplified concepts (esp. re- People)
• Functional fixedness: inability to see new uses for objects
• Artificial intelligence
34-2 – Identify the factors associated with creativity,
and describe ways of promoting creativity
• Creativity: ability to produce novel & valuable ideas and see
analogies
• Convergent thinking: narrows available problem solutions to
determine the single best solution
• Divergent thinking: expands the number of possible problem
solutions
• General solution: states requirements for solving a problem but not
allowing more action
• Functional solution: practical workable solution
• Brainstorming: fluency, flexibility, originality
• Stages: 1. Preparation 2. Incubation 3. Illumination 4. Verification!
• Very low link between IQ & creativity
35-1 – Describe the cognitive strategies that assist our problem
solving, and identify the obstacles that hinder it
• Algorithm: methodical approach guarantees solution
• Heuristic: shortcut that allows speedier but more error-prone
approach to solutions
• Insight: sudden realization of solution
– Kohler’s chimp study
• Confirmation bias: look for info that supports preconceptions
• Mental set: tendency to approach problems using past ways that
worked
• Problem solving often involves image thinking
• Logic: using reason to draw conclusions
– Deductive: from general principles to specific situation
– Inductive: specific facts to general principles
35-2 – Explain what is meant by intuition, and describe how the
representativeness and availability heuristics, overconfidence,
belief perserverance, and framing influence our decisions and
judgments
• Intuition: automatic feeling or thought
• Representative heuristic: judging likelihood of things based
on matching prototypes
• Availability heuristic: likelihood based on based on
availability in memory
• Overconfidence: overestimating your beliefs and judgments
• Belief perserverance: clinging to concepts after discredited
• Framing: how issue is posed influences perception
• Ignore the base rate: general info vs specific info, tend to
ignore the specific
36-1 – Describe the structural
components of language
• Language: spoken, written, signed (e.g.
American Sign Language)
• Phonemes: smallest unit of sound
• Morphemes: smallest unit with meaning
• Grammar: system of rules
• Semantics: rules related to meaning of words
• Syntax: rules for making sensible sentences
36-2 – Identify the milestones in
language development
• Babbling: 4 months, makes sounds (goo goo),
by 10 months (ma ma)
• One word: 1-2, speaks in one word phrases
• Two-word: around 2, two word phrases
• Telegraphic: 2, (car go now)
• Complete sentences start after this…
36-3 – Describe how we acquire
language
• Chomsky: universal grammar and
predisposition for language
• Learn better when younger (critical period)
36-4 – Identify the brain areas involved
in language processing and speech
36-5 – Describe the relationship between language and
thinking, and discuss the value of thinking in images
• Whorf’s linguistic determinism: language
determines how we think
• Boroditsky: language influences our thinking
• Bilingualism: two languages (different languages,
different thinking)
• Thinking in images increase our skills when we
mentally practice upcoming events (rehearsal)
• Animals communicate, but debate about ability
to learn “language”