Introductory Psychology Open Course: Unit 7
Language & Cognition
In this unit we'll continue with a cognitive approach and consider other aspects of cognition, including the development and use of complex language, problem-solving, & decision-making. We'll consider how the process of language acquisition challenges purely behaviorist explanations and how language and thought are intertwined. We'll also consider how we tend to solve problems, and how biases and beliefs can influence this process. Finally, we'll consider how we use heuristics in order to make decisions more quickly, and how this benefits us but also leads us to predictable errors.
Problems with behaviorist explanations for language
Basic terms & concepts in linguistics
Noam Chomsky's theory that languages all share basic features
How children acquire vocabulary and grammar
How predisposition & social environment interact in language
The relationship between language and thinking
How do we recognize & categorize novel stimuli?
The role of mental set, fixedness, & convergent vs. divergent thinking
How beliefs & biases can create obstacles for problem-solving
Algorithms vs. Heuristics in Problem-Solving & Decision-Making
How availability in memory influences decision-making
How thinking in categories affects decision-making
How the framing of options influences decision-making
When prior investments influence present decisions
The potential upside of mental shortcuts
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