Chapter 7: Cognition: Thinking, Intelligence, and Language

functional fixedness

a block to problem solving that comes from thinking about objects in terms of only their typical functions

intelligence quotient (IQ)

a number representing a measure of intelligence, resulting from the division of one's mental age by one's chronological age and then multiplying that quotient by 100

language

a system for combining symbols (such as words) so that unlimited number of meaningful statements can be made for the purpose of communicating with others

deviation IQ scores

a type of intelligence measure that assumes that IQ is normally distributed around a mean of 100 with a standard deviation of about 15

heuristic

an educated guess based on prior experiences that helps narrow down the possible solutions for a problem; also known as a "rule of thumb"

prototype

an example of a concept that closely matches the defining characteristic of a concept

basic level type

an example of a type of concept around which other similar concepts are organized, such as "dog" "cat" or "pear"

pragmatics

aspects of language involving the practical ways of communicating with others, or the social "niceties" of language

natural concepts

concepts people form as a result of their experiences in the real world

formal concepts

concepts that are defined by specific rules or features

developmentally delayed

condition in which a persons behavioral and cognition skills exist at an earlier developmental stage than the skills of others who are the same chronological age; a more acceptable term for mental retardation

means-end analysis

heuristic in which the difference between the starting situation and the goal is determined and then steps are taken to reduce that difference

concepts

ideas that represent a class or category of objects, events, or activities

thinking (cognition)

mental activity that goes on in the brain when a person is organizing and attempting to understand information and communicating information to others

mental images

mental representations that stand for objects or events and have a picture-like quality

trial and error (mechanical solution)

problem-solving method in which one possible solution after another is tried until a successful one is found

problem solving

process of cognition that occurs when a goal must be reached by thinking and behaving in certain ways

gifted

the 2 percent of the population falling on the end of the normal curve and typically possessing and IQ of 130 or above

cognitive reserve

the ability of the brain to build and maintain new neurons and the connections between them

analytical intelligence

the ability to break problems down into component parts, or analysis, for problem solving

creative intelligence

the ability to deal with new and different concepts and to come up with new ways of solving problems

s factor

the ability to excel in certain areas, or specific intelligence

intelligence

the ability to learn from one's experiences, acquire knowledge, and use resources effectively in adapting to new situations or solving problems

g factor

the ability to reason and solve problems or general intelligence

practical intelligence

the ability to use information to get along in life and become successful

emotional intelligence

the awareness of and ability to manage one's own emotions as well as the ability to be self-motivated, able to feel what others feel, and socially skilled

phonemes

the basic units of sound in language

artificial intelligence (AI)

the creation of a machine that can think like a human

validity

the degree to which a test actually measures what it's supposed to measure

superoridinate concept

the most general form of a type of concept, such as "animal" or "fruit"

subordinate concept

the most specific category of a concept, such as one's pet dog or a pear in one's hand

creativity

the process of solving problems by combining ideas or behavior in new ways

semantics

the rules for determining the meaning of words and sentences

morphemes

the smallest units of meaning within a language

syntax

the system of rules for combing words and phrases to form grammatically correct sentences

grammar

the system of rules governing the structure and use of a language

mental set

the tendency for people to persist in using problem-solving patterns that have worked for them in the past

reliability

the tendency of a test to produce the same scores again and again each time it is given to the same people

confirmation bias

the tendency to search for evidence that fits one's beliefs while ignoring any evidence that does not fit those beliefs

linguistic relativity hypothesis

the theory that thought processes and concepts are controlled by language

cognitive universalism

theory that concepts are universal and influence the development of language

divergent thinking

type of thinking in which a person starts from one point and comes up with many different ideas or possibilities based on that point

convergent thinking

type of thinking in which a problem is seen as having only one answer, all lines of thinking will eventually lead to that single answer, using previous knowledge and logic

algorithms

very specific, step-by-step procedures for solving certain types of problems

triarchic theory of intelligence

Sternbergs theory that there are three kinds of intelligence: analytical, creative, and practical