What is the term for the process of retaining and recalling information over time?
Memory
a state of consciousness in which a person can respond to a stimulus or stimuli
attention
What is the basic unit of sound in language called?
Phoneme
What is a heuristic, and how does it help problem-solving?
A heuristic is a mental shortcut or rule of thumb that allows for quick problem-solving by reducing the number of possible solutions.
What is the term for the tendency to favor information that confirms our pre-existing beliefs or hypotheses?
Confirmation bias
What are the three main stages of the information processing model of memory?
Encoding, storage, and retrieval
Define divided attention and provide an example.
Divided attention is the ability to focus on multiple tasks simultaneously. An example is texting while walking
Define syntax
The rules of grammar that determine how sentences are put together in a language.
Describe the difference between convergent and divergent thinking.
Convergent thinking involves narrowing down possible solutions to find the correct answer, while divergent thinking involves generating multiple solutions to a problem.
Define availability heuristic and provide an example.
Availability heuristic is a mental shortcut where judgments are based on the ease with which examples come to mind. An example is overestimating the likelihood of plane crashes after hearing news reports about plane accidents.
What are the two types of long-term memory?
explicit memories and implicit memories
What is the cocktail party effect, and how does it relate to attention?
The ability to focus on one conversation while filtering out other conversations in a noisy environment. It demonstrates selective attention.
What is the difference between receptive and expressive language skills?
Receptive language involves understanding spoken or written language, while expressive language involves producing speech or writing.
Explain the concept of functional fixedness and provide an example.
Functional fixedness is the tendency to perceive objects as having only one fixed function. An example is using a coin as a screwdriver because a screwdriver is not available.
Explain the concept of framing and its impact on decision-making.
Framing refers to the way information is presented, which can influence how choices are perceived and decisions are made.
What is the serial position effect, and how does it relate to memory?
The tendency to recall the first (primacy effect) and last (recency effect) items in a list better than those in the middle.
Explain the concept of inattentional blindness and provide an example.
Inattentional blindness occurs when people fail to notice unexpected stimuli in their visual field due to focusing attention elsewhere. An example is the failure to see a gorilla walking through a basketball game while counting passes
Explain the concept of linguistic relativity (Sapir-Whorf hypothesis)
language influences thought and perception.
What is the difference between deductive and inductive reasoning?
Deductive reasoning involves drawing specific conclusions from general principles, while inductive reasoning involves forming generalizations based on specific observations.
Describe the concept of bounded rationality and how it affects decision-making.
Bounded rationality suggests that decision-making is limited by cognitive limitations, like time and information processing capacity, leading people to make quick decisions rather than smart ones.
What is the difference between semantic and episodic memory?
Semantic memory refers to general knowledge about the world, while episodic memory involves personal experiences and events.
Describe the difference between top-down and bottom-up attention processes.
Top-down attention involves guidance by prior knowledge and expectations, while bottom-up attention is driven by the stimulus characteristics.
Describe the process of language acquisition in infants according to the nativist perspective.
According to the nativist perspective, language acquisition is innate and guided by universal grammar principles proposed by Noam Chomsky. Infants are born with the capacity for language and are predisposed to learn language through exposure to linguistic input.
Describe the process of problem-solving according to Gestalt psychology.
According to Gestalt psychology, problem-solving involves restructuring or reorganizing information to see the problem in a new way. This can involve insight or sudden realization of the solution.
How can the role of emotions in decision-making processes, including how they can influence decisions.
Emotions can influence decision-making by biasing perceptions, preferences, and risk assessments. Positive emotions may lead to risk-seeking behavior, while negative emotions may lead to risk aversion.