Chapter 7 - Psychology

Identify different types of heuristics used to solve problems.

Availability heuristic - involves making decisions based upon how easy it is to bring something to mind Representative heuristic - involves making a decision by comparing the present situation to the most representative mental prototype

Examine and distinguish among various theories of intelligence.

Charles Spearmen (1904) Intelligence is g G (stable) = general mental energy that underlies everything we do S (variable) = specific stabilities (music, math, verbal...) Raymond Cattell (1963) Says g exists but in 2 different forms Crystallized intelligence: accumulated knowledge and the ability to use that knowledge to solve problems. (Increases through lifetime) Fluid intelligence: the speed and efficiency of thought; the ability to solve problems that are new to you (Decreases from middle adulthood on...) Sternberg (2004) Triarchic Theory of Intelligence 1. Analytical Intelligence - problem solving, analytical ability, reasoning, academic ability 2. Creative Intelligence - invent, discover, "think outside the box" 3. Practical Intelligence - "street smarts" ability to adapt to the environment (including social) Howard Gardner (2006) Theory of Multiple Intelligences 7 difference intelligences, no research to back theory, critics say they are skills, not intelligences Haier and Jung (2007) fMRI (analyzes activity of brain) Higher IQ=lower activation (brain doesn't have to work as hard to solve problems) Lower IQ=higher activation Parieto Frontal Integration Theory Intelligence = how efficient our brain works Sir Francis Galton (1800s) Father of IQ testing set up psychometric lab - reaction time tests Binet, Henri, and Simon (1905) first modern IQ test Include normative sample - representative sample to which all scores are compares Stanford Binet (ages 2-90) Lewis Termen took Binet's test and edited it for the U.S. Wechsler WAIS - Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (ages 16-90) WISC - Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (ages 6-16) WPPSI - Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (ages 2.5-7)

Define cognition and explain how it is related to thinking

Cognition refers to the mental processes involved in gaining knowledge and comprehension. These processes include thinking, knowing, remembering, judging and problem-solving.

Define creativity and its associated characteristics.

Creativity is when a new idea is created or alternatives are generated in order to solve problems, communicate, or entertain others. Characteristics of creativity are flexibility, fluency, elaboration, originality, and curiosity.

Differentiate between formal concepts and natural concepts.

Formal concepts are ideas or categories defined by set rules or a formal definition. Natural concepts are not learned through a definition but through everyday experiences.

Describe how intelligence is measured and identify important characteristics of assessment.

Intelligence is measured through an "IQ Test" to determine was brain volume, speed of neural transmission, and their working memory capacity. Formula: IQ=(ma/ca)x100 Ma= mental age Ca= chronological age Ex: 9/10 -- .9x100=90

Define decision making and explain how heuristics can lead us astray.

The thought process of selecting a logical choice from the available options. Heuristics are used for general problem solving by working backwards or break a task into steps. It can lead us astray by sidetracking us.

Explain how trial and error and algorithms can be used to solve problems.

Trial and error algorithms allow us to narrow down the solutions to a problem by testing numerous options, determine which are wrong, eliminating those choices and narrowing it down to the correct one.

Define concepts and identify how they are organized.

a mental representation of some object, event or pattern that has stored in it much of the knowledge typically thought relevant to that object, event or pattern. "A mental representation of a category"

Describe the biological processes associated with cognition.

in relation to a cognitive view of biological process which sees organisms as systems which operate on the basis of knowledge

Define language and give examples of its basic elements.

language is the method of human communication, either spoken or written, consisting of the use of words in a structured and conventional way.

Identify the linguistic relativity hypothesis and its relation to language and thought.

linguistic relativity holds that the structure of a language affects its speakers' world view or cognition.