Thinking and Language

What happens to our thinking when something doesn't fit our prototypes?

When something does not fit our prototype, our thinking is challenged and we begin to question or even alter our prototypes or beliefs.

What is the difference between a concept and a prototype?

A concept is a mental grouping of objects, events, ideas, or people. A prototype is a mental image or best example of a category.

What is the availability and representativeness heuristic?

Availability heuristic is the estimate likelihood of events based on their availability in memory like vivid, emotional, or recent events. Representative heuristic is the estimate likelihood of events in terms of how well they represent a particular prototype, and we may ignore other relevant information.

Know the stages of learning language (babbling, one-word, two-word). What is telegraphic speech?

Babbling stage is about 4 months old and infant can utter various sounds at first and its unrelated to household language. One-word is about 1 year and child can speak mostly in single words. Two-word is about 2 years old and child speaks mostly in two-word statements. Telegraphic speech are short simple sentences made up primarily of content words. For example, "cat sleep" which means "the cat is sleeping".

Know the function of the Broca's area and the Wernicke's area. What happens when there is damage to these areas?

Broca's area is responsible for production of language. Wernicke's area is responsible for comprehension of language. When damaged, one may be able to speak but not make any sense or not be able to speak properly but still make sense of what they are saying.

What is confirmation bias and fixation? How can each interfere with effective problem solving? Be able to identify examples of each.

Confirmation bias is the tendency to confirm our preconceptions and forget to look for counter evidence. Fixation is the inability to see a problem from a new perspective. They can interfere with effective problem solving by everyone caring different views and beliefs which challenge how we all go about problems.

What does Genie Wiley's case demonstrate about language development? What aspect of language did she develop, and which aspect did not develop?

Genie Wiley's case demonstrates about language development by showing how not being spoken to for 13 years and having no language besides bad consequences if sound was heard affects ones language. She was eventually able to learn and understand words but never understood grammar.

What is a heuristic?

Heuristic is a mental shortcut that allows us to think effectively, but can be prone to error.

What is linguistic determinism?

Linguistic determinism is the hypothesis that language determines the way we think.

What are other ways of thinking about the relationship between language and thinking?

Other ways of thinking about the relationship between language and thinking is that language determines how we think or that thinking determines our language. Another relationship includes we can think without language.

What is overconfidence, belief perseverance, and framing? Be able to identify examples of each concept.

Overconfidence is the tendency to overestimate the accuracy of our beliefs. Belief perseverance is the tendency to cling to beliefs even with contrary evidence available. Framing is the tendency to make decisions based on how options are presented.

Identify examples of phonemes and morphemes.

Phonemes are the smallest sound units in language. Morphemes are the smallest language units that carry meaning. For example, "cats" has 4 phonemes and 2 morphemes.

How do prototypes help our thinking, but also result in mistakes?

Prototypes help our thinking by helping us with identification, communication, and make our minds more efficient. Prototypes sometimes result in mistakes because it can result in conflict, stereotypes, prejudice, and bias.

What is the critical period for learning language? How does this affect learning a second language or sign language later in development?

The critical period for learning language is before the age of 8 is the best to learn language. This affects learning a second language or sign language later in development by it usually being difficult to master new grammar.

How can these heuristics cause us to ignore important information when making decisions or judgments?

These heuristics can cause us to ignore important information when making decisions or judgments by the mental shortcuts we make cause us to make quick judgment calls that will lead to errors in our judgment.