1. Module 14 Thought & Language

2. INTRODUCTION Definitions –Cognitive approach method of studying how we process, store, and use information and how this information, in turn, influences what we notice, perceive, learn, remember, believe, and feel –Thinking sometimes referred to as __________________; involves mental processes that are used to form concepts, solve problems, and engage in creative activities

3. INTRODUCTION (CONT’D) –Language special form of communication in which we learn and use complex rules to form and manipulate ________________________________________ ___ that are used to generate an endless number of meaningful sentences

4. FORMING CONCEPTS Concept –A way to group or classify objects, events, animals, or people based on some features, traits, or characteristics that they _______________________ Exemplar model –Form a concept of an object, event, animal, or person by __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________

5. FORMING CONCEPTS (CONT’D) Prototype theory –Form a concept by creating a mental image based on the average characteristics of an object (prototype) –To identify a new object, match to an already formed prototype of objects, people, or animals Functions of concepts –_____________________________________ –________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ –_______________________________________________

6. SOLVING PROBLEMS Problem solving –Involves searching for some rule, plan, or strategy that results in reaching a certain goal that’s ________________________________________________ ____________________________________ Different ways of thinking –Algorithms ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ____________________________________________

7. SOLVING PROBLEMS (CONT’D) Different ways of thinking –Heuristics rules of thumb, or clever and creative mental shortcuts, that reduce the number of operations to solve problems more easily and quickly –Availability heuristic says that we rely on information that’s more prominent or easily recalled and overlook other information that’s available but less prominent or notable

8. SOLVING PROBLEMS (CONT’D) Different ways of thinking –Artificial intelligence means of programming machines (computers, robots) to imitate human thinking and problem- solving abilities

9. SOLVING PROBLEMS (CONT’D) Three strategies for solving problems –Changing one’s mental set functional fixedness; __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ________________________________ –Using analogies __________________________________________________ –Forming sub-goals __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

10. THINKING CREATIVELY How is creativity defined? –Creative thinking combination of flexibility in thinking and reorganization of understanding to produce innovative ideas and new or novel solutions –Creative individual someone who regularly solves problems, fashions products, or defines new questions that make an impact on his or her society

11. THINKING CREATIVELY (CONT’D) How is creativity defined? –Psychometric approach uses objective problem-solving tasks to measure creativity, focuses on the distinction between two kinds of thinking (convergent and divergent) –Convergent thinking ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ____________________________ –Divergent thinking ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ _____________________________________________

12. THINKING CREATIVELY (CONT’D) How is creativity defined? –Case study approach analyzes creative people in great depth and thus provides insight into their development, personality, motivation, and problems –Cognitive approach tries to build a bridge between the objective measures of the psychometric approach and the subjective descriptions provided by case studies identifies and measures cognitive mechanisms used during creative thinking

13. LANGUAGE: BASIC RULES Language –Special form of communication that involves learning complex rules to make and combine symbols (words/gestures) into meaningful sentences Word –________________________________________________ ____________________________________ Grammar –________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

14. LANGUAGE: BASIC RULES (CONT’D) Four rules of language 1.Phonology ______________________________________________ 2.Morphology system that we use to group ____________ into meaningful combinations of sound and words –morpheme; ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________

15. LANGUAGE: BASIC RULES (CONT’D) Four rules of language 3.Syntax, or grammar set of rules that ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ _________________ 4. Semantics ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

16. LANGUAGE: BASIC RULES (CONT’D) Understanding language –Noam Chomsky’s theory of language says that all languages share a common universal grammar and that children inherit a mental program to learn this universal grammar

17. LANGUAGE: BASIC RULES (CONT’D)

18. Understanding language –Mental grammar allows us to combine nouns, verbs, and objects in an endless variety of meaningful sentences innate brain program makes learning the general rules of grammar relatively easy

19. LANGUAGE: BASIC RULES (CONT’D) Different structure, same meaning –Surface structure refers to the actual wording of a sentence, as it is spoken –Deep structure refers to an underlying meaning that isn’t spoken but is present in the mind of the listener –Transformational rules procedures by which we convert our ideas from surface structures into deep structures and from deep structures back into surface ones

20. LANGUAGE: BASIC RULES (CONT’D)

21. ACQUIRING LANGUAGE Language stages –Refers to all infants going through four different periods or stages: babbling, single words, two-word combinations, and sentences 1.____________________________ begins at about six months; the first stage in acquiring language 2. ________________________ occurs at about one year of age parentese (emphasizes tone of voice and words)

22. ACQUIRING LANGUAGE (CONT’D) Language stages 3. ________________________ occurs at about two years of age strings of two words that express various actions (“me play”) 4. ________________________________ occurs at about four years of age

23. ACQUIRING LANGUAGE (CONT.) Telegraphic speech –Distinctive pattern of speaking in which the child omits articles (the), prepositions (in, out), and parts of verbs Basic rules of grammar –Rules for combining nouns, verbs, adjectives, and other parts of speech to form meaningful sentences Overgeneralization –Applying a grammatical rule to cases where it shouldn’t be used

24. ACQUIRING LANGUAGE (CONT’D) What are innate factors? –_______________________ genetically programmed physiological and neurological features that facilitate our making speech sounds and acquiring language skills –_________________________________ special adapted vocal apparatus (larynx and pharynx) that let us make sounds and form words –________________________________ left hemisphere of the brain is prewired to acquire and use language, whether spoken or signed

25. ACQUIRING LANGUAGE (CONT’D) What are innate factors? –Innate developmental factors _____________________________________ time from _________________________ when language is easiest to learn _______________________________________ _______________________________________ __

26. ACQUIRING LANGUAGE (CONT’D) What are environmental factors? –Interactions children have with parents, peers, teachers, and others who provide feedback that rewards and encourages language development, as well as provides opportunities for children to observe, imitate, and practice language skills Social cognitive learning –Emphasizes the acquisition of language skills through social interactions, which give children a chance to observe, imitate, and practice the sounds, words, and sentences they hear from their parents or caregivers

27. DECISIONS, THOUGHT, & LANGUAGE Words and thoughts –Theory of linguistic relativity _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ __________________________________