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Introduction to Psychology

Introduction to Psychology. Language and Thought. Language. A language is a system of symbols, sounds, meanings, and rules of combination that allows for communication among humans Phonemes: the smallest units of sound Morphemes: the smallest units of meaning

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Introduction to Psychology

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  1. Introduction to Psychology Language and Thought

  2. Language • A language is a system of symbols, sounds, meanings, and rules of combination that allows for communication among humans • Phonemes: the smallest units of sound • Morphemes: the smallest units of meaning • Phrases are composed of morphemes • Sentences: strings of morphemes and phrases that express a thought or intention

  3. Nonverbal Communication • Nonverbal communication includes: • vocal intonation • body language (crossed arms) • gestures (often involving the hands or fingers) • physical distance • facial expressions • touch

  4. Language Development • 100 basic phonemes • Babbling (6 - 18 months) • Words (10 - 13 months) • Vocabulary spurt (18 – 24 months) • Receptive vs. productive vocabulary • Fast Mapping • Over and Under-extensions • Overregularizations

  5. Language Development • The case for nurture: (behaviorist) • B.F. Skinner argued that children imitate the utterances of their parents • Skinner suggests that children receive differential reinforcement for speech sounds • The case for nature (Nativist) • Chomksy argued that language acquisition appears to be universal across culture (could not be accounted for by learning) • Interactionist

  6. Critical Periods for Language Acquisition • Critical periods assume that an organism must develop a function within a limited time frame or it will not develop at all • Children easily learn second languages, adults have great difficulty • Isolated children have language impairments: • Genie: was isolated as a child and was unable to learn complex language as an adolescent

  7. Problem Solving • Problem solving refers to the process by which we transform one situation into another to meet a goal • Problems vary by definition: • Well-defined versus ill-defined • Strategies of problem solving: • Algorithms are systematic procedures that will produce a solution to a problem • Hypothesis testing: make an educated guess about a problem; then test it • Mental simulation: mental rehearsal of the steps needed to solve a problem

  8. Problem Solving: Barriers • Irrelevant information • Functional fixedness • Mental set • Unnecessary constraints

  9. Approaches to Problem Solving • Algorithms • Heuristics • Forming sub-goals • Working backward • Searching for Analogies • Changing the representation of the problem

  10. The Base Rate Fallacy • Fear of flying vs. driving • Anthrax vs. influenza • SARS vs. viral encephalitis

  11. The Impact of Vivid Events • Which of the following are more frequent causes of death in Canada? • Homicide or Diabetes • Flood or Pneumonia • All accidents or Stroke • All cancers or heart disease • Tornados or Alzheimer’s disease • Drowning or Leukemia • Motor vehicle accidents or cancer of the digestive system

  12. Regression Toward the Average • Rookie of the year rarely has a better second season • Sports Illustrated Jinx

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