Cognitive Psychology Terms
What is Cognition?
Thinking or processing information like ideas, language, and images.
What does the Frontal Lobe do?
Executive functions, thinking, planning, organizing, problem-solving, emotions, behavioral control, personality.
Explain the Sensorimotor Stage (Birth to 2 years).
Babies learn through their senses and actions. They start to understand that things still exist.
What did Noam Chompsky do?
A pioneer in modern linguistics, known for his theory of language acquisition, which emphasizes universal grammar and suggests that humans are equipped to learn a language.
What is Convergent Thinking?
Logical thinking that finds one correct answer
What does the Motor Cortex do?
Control movement
Explain the Preoperational Stage (2 to 7 years).
Kids begin to use words and images to represent things. They think in a very self-centered way and have trouble seeing things from other people's perspectives.
What did Wolfgang Köhler do?
Conducted influential research on chimpanzees, demonstrating their ability to use insight to solve problems involving tools and objects.
What is Divergent Thinking?
Creative thinking that finds many possible answers.
What does the Occipital Lobe do?
Controls vision
Explain the Concrete Operational Stage (7 to 11 years).
Children start thinking logically about events.
What did Howard Gardner do?
Formulated the theory of multiple intelligences, which broadens the traditional understanding of intelligence.
What is Confirmation Bias?
Looking for information that supports what you already believe and ignoring what doesn't.
What does the Medulla Oblongata do?
Controls breathing, heart, and respiration
Explain the Formal Operational Stage (12 years and up).
Teens develop the ability to think about more abstract concepts. They can reason about hypothetical situations and think about future possibilities outside the box.
What did Elizabeth Loftus do?
Renowned for her research on false memories and the misinformation effect.