After reading this chapter, you should be able to:
- Describe the field of cognitive psychology and summarize the key processes and phenomena that are emphasized within the field.
- Define a concept, explain how people form concepts, and discuss some of the methods researchers use to study concepts.
- Explain the process of problem solving, and describe how psychologists can help people become better problem solvers through the use of heuristics and algorithms.
- Examine how functional fixedness and metal set can interfere with effective problem-solving.
- List the six tips that can allow you to become a better critical thinker.
- Review the important attributes and stages of creative problem solving and compare and contrast convergent and divergent thinking and brainstorming.
- Distinguish between the terms reasoning and decision making and develop an understanding of how logic is involved in each.
- Explain the psychological factors that are involved in estimating the probability of specific behaviors and events.
- Describe the five common barriers to sound decision-making.
- Review the ways in which culture and evolution impact reasoning and decision-making.
- Explain how psychologists use computer simulations to mimic human information processing.
- Describe how the concept of neural networks is being used to understand and generate models that mimic the processing of information in the human brain.
- Define language and discuss the key components of language.
- Discuss how gender, thoughts, and culture influence language.
- Distinguish between linguistics and psycholinguistics and relate each of these areas of study to the acquisition of language.
- Describe what is learned through research in phonology, semantics, and syntax.
- Differentiate between learning and biological theories of language acquisition, especially as they relate to learning readiness.
- Discuss the research on language acquisition in chimpanzees, dolphins, and whales, and explain how chimp language differs from human language.
