Overview
This lecture covers key concepts and terms from psychology quizzes 7-9, focusing on cognition, memory, heuristics, developmental psychology, and notable theories.
Cognition and Language
- Cognition refers to processes like perception, knowledge, problem-solving, judgment, language, and memory.
- A phoneme is a basic sound unit in language.
- A morpheme is the smallest unit of language conveying meaning.
- Semantics is the process of deriving meaning from morphemes and words.
- Concepts are categories grouping linguistic information, images, ideas, or memories.
- Artificial concepts have specific defining characteristics; natural concepts are learned by experience.
- Functional fixedness is a mental set where an object can't be seen as serving another purpose.
Heuristics and Biases
- Confirmation bias is focusing only on information that confirms existing beliefs.
- The availability heuristic bases judgments on information easily recalled, often due to media exposure.
- Hindsight bias is believing an event was predictable after it occurred.
- Suggestibility is the creation of false memories from external misinformation.
Memory Processes
- Explicit memory requires conscious recall; implicit memory does not.
- Recognition involves identifying information learned previously.
- Construction is forming new memories; reconstruction is recalling old ones.
- The misinformation effect involves altering memories based on misleading information.
- Relearning is regaining lost skills or knowledge by practice.
- Retroactive interference is when new information disrupts recalling older information.
- Distributed practice (studying over time) is more effective than cramming.
- Elaborative rehearsal links new information to existing knowledge for better recall.
- Ebbinghaus found only 30% of new material is remembered after one day without review.
Brain Structures and Memory
- The amygdala processes emotional memories, especially fear.
- The cerebellum is key for implicit memories, including motor skills.
- An engram is a group of neurons representing a memory.
- H.M.'s case revealed anterograde amnesia: inability to form new memories.
Developmental Psychology
- Nature vs. nurture debates genetics versus environment and culture.
- The frontal lobe underdevelopment explains adolescent risk-taking.
- Developmental milestones are typical ages for skills to emerge.
- Piaget: sensorimotor stage involves learning through perception and movement; object permanence develops here.
- Erikson's theory: development involves eight psychosocial crises; trust vs. mistrust is the first.
- Secure attachment means distress at caregiver's absence and happiness at their return.
- Neuroconstructivist perspective emphasizes the brain's developmental impact on cognition.
- Physical development covers bodily and sensory growth; cognitive development involves thinking and reasoning.
- Fine motor skills include small actions like writing; gross motor skills are larger movements like running.
Parenting and Morality
- Permissive parenting allows children to make most choices.
- Kohlbergâs post-conventional morality weighs individual principles over rules.
- Egocentrism is seeing the world only from one's own perspective.
- Conservation is understanding that quantity stays the same despite shape changes.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Phoneme â basic sound unit in language
- Morpheme â smallest unit of meaning in language
- Concept â mental category for information or experiences
- Functional Fixedness â inability to use objects in new ways
- Confirmation Bias â focusing on information that supports beliefs
- Availability Heuristic â overestimating likelihood due to memorable examples
- Explicit Memory â memory that involves conscious recall
- Implicit Memory â memory not part of conscious awareness
- Engram â neural representation of a memory
- Anterograde Amnesia â inability to form new memories
- Object Permanence â understanding objects exist even when out of sight
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review key terms and their definitions.
- Practice applying concepts to example scenarios.
- Prepare for exam questions on developmental stages and memory processes.