PSYC 1001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Benjamin Lee Whorf, Edward Sapir, Categorical Logic
Module 52: The Relationship between language and thought
Mental imagery: picturing things in your mind
Linguistic relativity hypothesis: (Edward sapir & Benjamin lee whorf) hypothesis suggested
that the vocabulary available for objects or concepts in a language influences how speakers of
that language think about them. Argues language dictates thoughts. However, much “thinking”
does involve internal language. argues language dictates thoughts
Module 53: Thought
Cognitive control: the ability to direct thoughts and actions in accord with one’s intentions.
(trying to read your psych textbook while a roommate is talking to a friend who just stopped by)
Executive functions: the brains ability to exert control over mental and manage the mental
processing of information. Involves the frontal lobe. Develops with age
Dysexecutive syndrome: impairments in the ability to control and direct mental activities
Problem solving: determining how to reach a goal, is triggered by the disuse to reach a goal.
Trial and error: trying and failing till you get the answer
Algorithm: a problem-solving strategy that always lead to a solution. Step by step procedure that
guarantees a correct solution. Very time consuming
Heuristic: a shortcut thinking strategy. Less time consuming. Not guarantee a correct solution
Insight: involves a sudden realization of a solution to a novel problem
Metal set: tendency to use problem-solving strategies that have worked in the past
Functional fixedness: tendency to view objects as having only one function. Type of mental set
in which you fail to see a new use or function for a familiar object.
Confirmation bias: tendency to look for information that meets our expectations and confirms
our ideas
Decision making: evaluating and choosing from among options
Representative heuristics: the assumption that individuals share characterizes of the category of
which they are a member. Judging what category, a thing or a person belongs to base on how
well they seem to represent, or, match urn concept of the category.
Availability heuristics: judging easily-recalled events as more common. Estimation the
likelihood of events based on their availability in memory
Framing: logically equivalent statements can be presented in differing ways
Metacognition: thinking about one’s own thoughts. Thinking about thinking
Obsessive-compulsive disorder: a mental disorder associated with abnormal anxiety-provoking
thoughts that can lead to ritualistic behaviour.
Schizophrenia: a mental disorder characterized by disorganized thoughts, lack of contact with
reality, and sometimes auditory hallucination
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Module 52: the relationship between language and thought. Linguistic relativity hypothesis: (edward sapir & benjamin lee whorf) hypothesis suggested that the vocabulary available for objects or concepts in a language influences how speakers of that language think about them. However, much thinking does involve internal language. argues language dictates thoughts. Cognitive control: the ability to direct thoughts and actions in accord with one"s intentions. (trying to read your psych textbook while a roommate is talking to a friend who just stopped by) Executive functions: the brains ability to exert control over mental and manage the mental processing of information. Dysexecutive syndrome: impairments in the ability to control and direct mental activities. Problem solving: determining how to reach a goal, is triggered by the disuse to reach a goal. Trial and error: trying and failing till you get the answer. Algorithm: a problem-solving strategy that always lead to a solution. Step by step procedure that guarantees a correct solution.