Thinking, Language, and Intelligence

Chapter 8

Thinking

Ø Solving Problems - algorithms

Ø Making Decisions and Judgments – confirmation bias

Ø Assessing Risk

Ø The Perils and Power of Intuition

Ø Blink

Thinking

Ø “Blink” - Malcolm Gladwell

Ø Unconscious force in decisions = “adaptive unconscious”

Ø Snap judgments Ø “Thin Slices”

Language

Ø Language Development

Ø Thinking without Language

Ø Animal Thinking and Language

Film - Power of Words

(vimeo)

Dyslexia / Dysphasia Ø Neurological disorder –

Ø Genetic or right brain dominance Ø Socially defined Ø Strategies -

Ø Comprehension, not speed is important Ø “Fixing it” not right idea Ø Times of day important Ø Work schedule important Ø Practice writing and spelling Ø Tests’ accommodation Ø Use resource center

Intelligence - General Information

Ø First devised to identify slow learners

Ø Two issues - Ø Whether IQ tests favor whites Ø H vs E controversy

Ø Basic elements of intelligence Ø Creativity - a separate form of

intelligence- Ø Unique ideas Ø IQ of about 120

Intelligence - General Information

Ø Research: Gordon Hodson a psychologist at Brock University in Ontario, Canada

Ø People with low intelligence - Ø Hold prejudiced attitudes as adults Ø Gravitate toward socially conservative ideologies

which stress hierarchy and resistance to change and offer structure and order

Ø Corresponds with racism and homophobia -

Ø Attracts those who have trouble with people of other races and sexual orientation

Ø  Important: average over large groups

Measuring Intelligence

Ø  Mental age Ø  Intelligence quotient (IQ) score

Ø  Tests - Ø  Individual: Stanford-Binet; Wechsler Ø  Group Ø  Achievement Ø  Aptitude

Ø  Reliability Ø  Validity Ø  Standardization ( norms)

Kinds of Intelligence

Ø Fluid intelligence

Ø Crystallized intelligence

Ø Practical intelligence

Ø Savant syndrome

Variations in Intelligence Ø Intellectual disability= 69 IQ and below

Ø Slower encoding; strong storage

Ø Independent functioning

Ø Intellectually gifted = 130 and above Ø Twenty per cent of students not graduating

from high school are gifted

Ø Most prevalent characteristics / behaviors of giftedness

Ø Problems of being gifted

Heredity vs. Environment

Ø Culture-fair IQ tests

Ø Relative influence of H vs E – adoption studies

Ø Heritability

Ø Scarr & Weinberg research

Ø Stanford longitudinal study of gifted

Group Differences in Test Scores

Ø Ethnic Differences – between individuals = reflection of genetic differences; between groups = environmental differences

Ø Gender Differences – greater male variability = more often in special education classes – talk later; stutter more

Ø Biased Test Questions

Daniel Goleman- Emotional Intelligence

Ø It’s the master aptitude. Ø Important because it

enables one to deal well with his own and other’s feelings

Nature of Emotional Intelligence

Ø Definition of emotional intelligence - Ø Knowing one’s emotions Ø Managing one’s emotions appropriately Ø  Motivating oneself in service of a goal Ø Recognizing emotions in others = empathy

– taps into mirror neurons Ø Handling relationships well

Emotional Intelligence

Ø Alexithymia Ø Emotions often unconscious Ø Role of amygdala in early

childhood Ø Art of soothing selves Ø Impulsivity Ø Flow

Emotional Intelligence Applied

Ø Intimate enemies - marriage Ø Troubled marriages Ø Sign of dominance Ø Stonewalling and criticism Ø Cycle of revenge Ø Mind and medicine – toxic emotions