Chapter 8 Thinking, Intelligence, and Language

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• Chapter 8Thinking, Intelligence, and Language

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Chapter Preview

• Cognitive Revolution in Psychology
• Thinking
• Intelligence
• Language
• Thinking, Problem-Solving, and Health and Wellness

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The Cognitive Revolution

• cognition how information is processed and
  manipulated when remembering, thinking, and
  knowing
• 1950s psychology resumes focus on the mind and
  mental processes
• computers an analogy for the mind/brain
• - artificial intelligence (AI)

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The Computer Analogy
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Thinking

• concepts mental categories used to group
  objects, events, and characteristics
• prototype model all instances of a concept are
  compared to a prototype (ideal example) of that
  concept

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Steps in Problem Solving

• Find and frame problem
• Develop good problem-solving strategies
  (subgoals, algorithms, heuristics)
• Evaluate solutions
• Rethink and redefine problems and solutions over
  time

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Problem-Solving Obstacles

• fixation
• - using a prior strategy only
• functional fixedness
• - fixated on usual functions

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Reasoning

• mental activity of transforming information to
  reach conclusions
• inductive reasoning
• - driven by data bottom-up specific ? general
• deductive reasoning
• - driven by logic top-down general ? specific

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Reasoning and Decision Making
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Decision Making

• evaluating alternatives and making choices among
  them
• attempting to maximize outcome

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Reasoning and Decision Making

• System I automatic
• rapid, heuristic, intuitive
• System II controlled
• slower, effortful, analytical

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Decision-Making Biases

• Confirmation Bias
• search only for info that supports our ideas
• Hindsight Bias
• report falsely that we predicted an outcome
• Availability Heuristic
• predict probability based on ease of recall
• Base-Rate Fallacy
• ignore info about general principles
• Representativeness Heuristic
• make judgments based on stereotypes

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Critical Thinking

• thinking reflectively and productively and
  evaluating the evidence
• mindfulness alert and mentally present
• open-mindedness receptive to new ways of
  looking at things

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Emotion and Cognition

• moods influence the way we think
• bad moods gtgt use careful logic to solve problems
• good moods gtgt efficiency, originality,
  creativity, ignore irrelevant info

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Creative Thinking

• Divergent versus Convergent Thinking
• Characteristics of Creative Thinkers
• brainstorm
• flexibility and playful thinking
• inner motivation
• willingness to face risk
• objective evaluation of work

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Intelligence

• What is intelligence?
• definitions of intelligence reflect culture
• U.S. Spearmans g
• measuring intelligence
• - validity
• - reliability
• - standardization

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Intelligence Tests Criteria
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Intelligence Tests

• Binet Mental Age (MA)
• Stern Intelligence Quotient (IQ)
• normal distribution
• Stanford-Binet Test

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Intelligence Normal Distribution
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Influences on Testing

• Cultural Bias in Testing
• culture-fair tests (e.g., Raven Progressive
  Matrices)
• Genetic Influences on Intelligence
• heritability
• increases with age
• Environmental Influences on Intelligence
• Flynn effect

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The Flynn Effect
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Variations in Intelligence

• Giftedness usually IQ 130
• Terman socially well adjusted and successful as
  adults
• importance of innate ability
• Intellectual disability usually IQ lt 70
• organic versus cultural-familial disabilities
• mild, moderate and severe/profound
• adaptive behavior deficits (conceptual, social,
  practical)

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Theories of Multiple Intelligences

• Sternbergs Triarchic Theory
• analytical intelligence
• creative intelligence
• practical intelligence

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Theories of Multiple Intelligences

• Gardners Frames of Mind
• verbal mathematical
• spatial bodily-kinesthetic
• interpersonal intrapersonal
• naturalist existentialist
• musical

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Language

• Language
• form of spoken, written, or signed
  communication based on symbols
• Infinite Generativity
• ability to produce an endless number of
  meaningful sentences

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Structure of Language

• Phonology - basic phonemes (sounds)
• Morphology - rules for word formation
• Syntax - rules for combining words to form
  phrases and sentences
• Semantics - meaning of words and sentences
• Pragmatics - use of language

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Language and Cognition

• Can you think without using language?
• Whorfs linguistic relativity hypothesize
• language determines thought
• role of cognition in language
• role of language in cognition

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Gender and Language

• Gender Differences in Language
• Are women more talkative?

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Influences on Language

• Biological Influences
• language universals
• hemispheric specialization
• Environmental Influences
• behavioral view (learned skill)
• language exposure (case of Genie)

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Development of Language
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Learning a Second Language as an Adult

• Sensitive Periods in Language Learning
• new sounds/accent and new grammar
• new vocabulary

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Thinking, Problem-Solving, and Health and Wellness

• Cognitive Appraisal and Coping
• primary appraisal
• secondary appraisal
• cognitive reappraisal

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Chapter Summary

• Describe cognitive psychology and discuss the
  role of the computer in the development of the
  field.
• Explain the processes and human limitations in
  problem solving, reasoning, and decision making.
• Describe intelligence and its measurement.
• Discuss influences on intelligence and types of
  intelligence.
• Identify the connections between language and
  thought and summarize how language is acquired
  and develops.
• Discuss the importance of cognitive appraisal
  with respect to stress and describe various
  styles of coping.

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Chapter Summary

• Cognitive Revolution
• Thinking
• prototype model of concepts
• problem-solving steps and barriers
• reasoning and decision making
• - inductive, deductive, and intuitive
• - biases
• critical and creative thinking

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Chapter Summary

• Intelligence
• IQ tests measurement, Binet, normal curve
• influences on intelligence test scores
• extremes and types of intelligence
• Language
• structure, development, and influences
• Thinking, Problem-Solving, and Health and
  Wellness
• cognitive appraisal and coping strategies