Chapter 9: Thinking, Chapter 9: Thinking, Language, and Language, and IntelligenceIntelligence

ThinkingThinking1.1. In psychology we call thinking In psychology we call thinking

cognitioncognition

2.2. Thinking about thinking is called Thinking about thinking is called metacognition metacognition

And it is what we’re going to be doing And it is what we’re going to be doing today!today!

3.3. How do we think?How do we think?

Basic Approaches to Basic Approaches to ThinkingThinking

1.1. ConceptsConcepts Ex. ball, chair, book, car Ex. ball, chair, book, car

2.2. PrototypesPrototypes Ex. Cat – describe your prototypical catEx. Cat – describe your prototypical cat

Problem SolvingProblem Solving What are the basic approaches to What are the basic approaches to

solving a problem?solving a problem?1.1. Trial and ErrorTrial and Error

2.2. AlgorithmsAlgorithms

3.3. HeuristicsHeuristics

InsightInsight

Things that get in the Things that get in the way of problem solvingway of problem solving

1.1. Confirmation biasConfirmation bias

2.2. FixationFixation Functional fixednessFunctional fixedness

More details about More details about HeuristicsHeuristics We tend to use heuristics We tend to use heuristics incorrectly in two basic ways:incorrectly in two basic ways:

1.1. Based on availability – we make the Based on availability – we make the mistake that if an idea comes to us mistake that if an idea comes to us easily, it must be commoneasily, it must be common

2.2. Based on representativeness – we Based on representativeness – we make mistakes in judging the make mistakes in judging the likelihood of something if the likelihood of something if the information we have fits a certain information we have fits a certain prototypeprototype

Ken vs. Ed example Ken vs. Ed example

OverconfidenceOverconfidence Another cognitive mistake people Another cognitive mistake people

commonly make is to overestimate commonly make is to overestimate their own knowledge and accuracytheir own knowledge and accuracy

Students often do this after leaving an Students often do this after leaving an examexam

Framing: Making Framing: Making DecisionsDecisions

1.1. Framing, or how an idea/issue is Framing, or how an idea/issue is presented can have a huge effect presented can have a huge effect on our approach to iton our approach to it

In politics, this is called ‘spin’In politics, this is called ‘spin’

Store sales capitalize on the frame of Store sales capitalize on the frame of getting a dealgetting a deal

Belief PerseveranceBelief Perseverance1.1. Despite evidence to the contrary, Despite evidence to the contrary,

we tend to stick by our original we tend to stick by our original beliefs about somethingbeliefs about something

2.2. To get around this bias, you have to To get around this bias, you have to get people to fully consider the get people to fully consider the opposite positionopposite position

Skinner & Chomsky: Two Skinner & Chomsky: Two theories of Language theories of Language AcquisitionAcquisition

1.1. Chomsky & the ‘language Chomsky & the ‘language acquisition device’acquisition device’

This ‘device’ is a biological mechanism This ‘device’ is a biological mechanism in the brain that allows us to learn in the brain that allows us to learn languagelanguage

2.2. You guys have heard Skinner’s You guys have heard Skinner’s name before – anyone remember name before – anyone remember from what?from what?

Language Language DevelopmentDevelopment Four important parts of language:Four important parts of language:

1.1. PhonemesPhonemes

2.2. SemanticsSemantics

3.3. SyntaxSyntax

4.4. PragmaticsPragmatics

1.1. As early as 4 months old babies As early as 4 months old babies begin to babble and try our begin to babble and try our phonemic soundsphonemic sounds

2.2. Around 1 year babies begin learning Around 1 year babies begin learning semantics & using single wordssemantics & using single words

Development Development continuedcontinued

1.1. During this During this one-word stageone-word stage babies babies use single words to indicate longer use single words to indicate longer sentencessentences

2.2. Around age 2, they begin using Around age 2, they begin using telegraphic speechtelegraphic speech

Critical Period?Critical Period?1.1. If we aren’t exposed to language If we aren’t exposed to language

during childhood, will we ever be during childhood, will we ever be able to learn it?able to learn it?

2.2. Language seems to have more of a Language seems to have more of a sensitive period than a critical onesensitive period than a critical one

Thinking and Thinking and LanguageLanguage

1.1. Linguistic Determinism is a theory Linguistic Determinism is a theory that says language influences the that says language influences the way that we think way that we think

Lots of cross-cultural research has Lots of cross-cultural research has shown that language does seem to shown that language does seem to shape the way we thinkshape the way we think

2.2. But do we always think in words?? But do we always think in words??

Language and animalsLanguage and animals1.1. Humans have unique language Humans have unique language

abilitiesabilities productivityproductivity

2.2. Non-human primates also have Non-human primates also have language skills, but not with the language skills, but not with the same level of productivitysame level of productivity

Can chimps talk?Can chimps talk?1.1. Common chimps do communicate Common chimps do communicate

orally, but their calls don’t resemble orally, but their calls don’t resemble human speechhuman speech

2.2. They can be taught very basic sign-They can be taught very basic sign-language & to use other symbolic language & to use other symbolic representations to indicate representations to indicate requests, etc.requests, etc.

3.3. But they don’t use these gestures But they don’t use these gestures and symbols to make unique and symbols to make unique communicationscommunications

IntelligenceIntelligence1.1. Know key players – Ex. BinetKnow key players – Ex. Binet

2.2. Know different kinds of intelligenceKnow different kinds of intelligence

3.3. Know the controversy/biases that Know the controversy/biases that surround intelligence testingsurround intelligence testing

Reminder: Exam #3 on Reminder: Exam #3 on Thursday Chapters 6-9Thursday Chapters 6-9