Psych Chapter 8

concept

A concept is a category of objects, events, or ideas.

heuristics

This is a problem-solving strategy, but not one that goes step by step.

The easier it is for an individual to remember a circumstance in which a car battery failed to function, the more he expects such an event to recur. This BEST illustrates the impact of the _____ heuristic.

availability

There is a small group of people who still think that the Earth is flat despite the fact that they are often otherwise normal members of modern society. They are exhibiting _____.

belief perseverance

As cognitive psychologists define it, a concept is a(n)

category.

When we use the term "Asian" to refer to a category of people, we are using this word to denote a(n) _____.

concept

Marshall has such low self-esteem that he is often on the lookout for critical comments about his appearance and personality. Marshall's behavior BEST illustrates the dangers of _____ bias.

confirmation

Raul is very skilled at taking aptitude tests and finding solutions to mathematics and science problems. Raul's skills illustrate:

convergent thinking.

A(n) _____ refers to an inability to view a problem from a new perspective.

fixation

Most adults are more likely to choose a birth control method that is said to have a 95 percent success rate than one that is said to have a 5 percent failure rate. This BEST illustrates the impact of _____.

framing

Sammie is celebrating his first birthday today. He can say numerous words like "da-da," "kitty," and "fish." Noam Chomsky would say that Sammie is able to do this effortlessly because:

he is equipped with a language-acquisition device.

When someone mentions hamburgers, Trisha immediately thinks of a Big Mac. In this instance, a Big Mac is a(n):

prototype

Children first begin to demonstrate appropriate syntax in their speech during the _____ stage of language development.

two word

Noam Chomsky argues that children's readiness to learn language is a(n):

predisposition

Introductory psychology students were more likely to achieve a good midterm exam grade if, prior to the exam, they repeatedly practiced visual imagery that involved:

process simulation.

Which term BEST illustrates productive language?

telegraphic speech

Two-year-old Dirk's sentences—"Dad come," "Mom laugh," and "Truck gone"—are examples of:

telegraphic speech.

Mary Ellen is a registered Republican. She believes that her positions on political issues are correct because she often finds similar viewpoints expressed in conservative media. Mary Ellen is demonstrating:

confirmation bias.

Concept formation is a cognitive process.

Concept formation

Outcome simulation would involve imagining success but not the actions needed to achieve it.

Outcome simulation

Which person is NOT demonstrating creative thinking?

Seventeen-year-old Jason is an excellent test taker and does very well on aptitude tests.

syntax

Syntax refers to the rules indicating how words may be arranged to form sentences.

Word comprehension develops earlier than productive language.

Word comprehension

Amir systematically tried each successive key on his dad's key ring until he found the one that unlocked his office door. This BEST illustrates problem solving by means of a(n) _____

algorithm

Some athletes use mental practice to try to improve performance. A group of people threw darts 24 times at a target. Next, half of the group mentally practiced throwing 24 darts, while the remainder practiced physically throwing the darts. Finally, the entire group threw 24 more darts. Based on research described in the text, those who practiced mentally should show:

more than those who practiced physcially

Gary says things like "doggy," "mama," and "dada." He is in the _____ stage of language development.

one-word

Jessica believes she can complete a term paper, start-to-finish, in two days and begins the paper two days before its due date. Unfortunately, once she begins, she realizes it will more likely take four or five days to complete. Her failure to accurately determine how long the assignment would take BEST illustrates:

overconfidence.

"You always clam up when I ask you what's wrong," Iris tells her boyfriend. Iris is probably making this frequency judgment because she can remember a few times that her boyfriend wouldn't tell her what was bothering him. Iris is demonstrating:

the availability heuristic.

The fact that all human languages have nouns, verbs, and adjectives led Noam Chomsky to refer to _____.

universal grammar