1. Cognition and Language
Psychology 1107
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2. Introduction
So how do we take the perceptual information, store it, then use it to solve a problem?
Well we know the first two, but, problem solving is interesting in its own right
How do we classify information?
How do we communicate it?
Cool questions
Big questions
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3. Conceptual Thinking Concepts simplify the world
Allow us to solve real problems
Probably organized hierarchically
Chair
Objects
Furniture
Table
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4. Concepts Prototypes? Exemplars?
Maybe it is characteristics in a conceptual hierarchy
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5. Problem Solving We use these concepts to solve problems
Problem solving is probably done in stages
Representation
Can be good or bad
Functional fixedness
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6. Algorithms and Heuristics
Once the problem is represented somehow, we try to solve it using a strategy
Algorithms are sets of rules that will always come up with a solution
‘What is Dave’s computer password?’
Might take a while
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7. Heuristics Heuristics or rules of thumb are great
They often work quickly
Computer password example
But they can lead us astray
Often best if we set up subgoals
Means –ends analysis
Backward selection
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8. Mental set Which letter comes next? A B C D E ? ? A E I O ?
B C D F G H ? ?
M T W T F ? ?
O T T F F ? ?
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9. Representativeness Heuristic
What is the ‘average’
Over used, blinds us to other info
Law of small numbers
‘But I know a guy who’
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10. Is Susan a Librarian, a Teacher, or a Lawyer? Is Linda a Banker?
Is Linda a feminist Banker?
Susan is very shy and withdrawn, invariably helpful, but with little interest in people, or in the world of reality.
A meek and tidy soul, she has a need for order and structure, and a passion for detail.
Linda is 31 years old, single, outspoken, and very bright.
She majored in philosophy and economics.
As a student, she was deeply concerned with issues of discrimination and social justice, and also participated in anti-war demonstrations.
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11. Availability Heuristic
Stuff that is easy to remember must be the most frequent stuff
Advertising
How else could you get people to buy lottery tickets?
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12. Framing Depends a lot on how the problem is framed
Unemployment vs. employment
Canadian Tire Money Is a great example
THEY ARE COUPONS!
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13. Language It is symbolic and syntactic Phonemes Morphemes
Talk about stuff that isn’t there, and, there are rules
Phonemes
Sounds
Morphemes
Smallest unit of meaning
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14. Chomsky’s ideas Surface structure vs. deep structure
The cat chased the mouse."
"The mouse was chased by the cat."
Both mean the same thing so the same deep structure
Surface structure is different
Basically semantics vs. syntactics
We are the only species that does this
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15. Linguistic development
Starts with cooing and babbling
Phonemes
One or two word stage (1 year)
Two word stage
Telegraphic
Sentences
Generalization errors
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