AP PSYCHOLOGY NOTES 5/18/15

Intelligence

• the ability to learn from experience, solve problems, and use knowledge to adapt to new situations

Multiple Intelligence- Howard Gardner disagreed with Spearman and discovered this from a study of savants

There are 8 parts to Multiple Intelligence:

1. Visual/Spatial
2. Verbal/Linguistic
3. Logical/Mathematical
4. Bodily/Kinesthetic
5. Musical/Rhythmic
6. Interpersonal
7. Intrapersonal
8. Natural

Sternberg's 3 Aspects of Intelligence

1. Analytically- academic and problem solving
2. Creative- generative
3. Practical- needed for everyday tasks

Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

• "social intelligence"
• ability to perceive, express, understand, and regulate emotion
• EQ>IQ

Brain Size and Intelligence

• .15 (Small) correlation between brain size and intelligence

How do we Assess Intelligence?

• Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon created a concept called mental age
• Originally was to help children but is used to label them
• IQ= Mental Age/Chronological Age*100
• ineffective on adults

Modern Test for Mental Abilities

• Wechsler Adult Intelligence scale made of 11 subtests and cues us into strengths by using factor analysis

Aptitude vs Achievement

Aptitude- test to predict future performance

Achievement- test to see what a person has learned

Three parts to Construct Intelligence

1. Standardized
2. Reliable
3. Valid

Standardization- test must be pre-tested to a small sample of people

Flynn Effect- Intelligence test performance has been rising

Reliability- results are consistent over time

Validity- extent to which a test measures what is supposed to be measured

1. Content validity- does the test sample a behavior of interest?
2. Predictive validity-  does the test predict future behavior

Test Bias

• Test discriminate

LANGUAGE AND THOUGHT

Language- spoken or gestured words to make meaning

Phonemes- smallest distinctive sound unit

Morphemes- In a language the smallest unit that carries meaning (prefixes & suffixes)

Grammar- a system of rules in language to communicate

Semantics- rules where we get meaning for language

Syntax- rules for combining words into sentences

Language Development

• Babbling Stage- (3-4 months) infant makes spontaneous sounds
• 1 word stage- (1-2 yrs) uses one word to communicate big meaning
• 2 word stage- (2 yrs) uses two words to speak (telegraphic speech)

Skinner- thought we explain language development thought social learning theory

Chomsky- learn language too quickly. have a "learning box" for learning human language

Whorf's Linguistic Relativity- idea that language determines the way we think (not vice versa)

Thinking

Cognition- everything around thinking, knowing, and remembering

Concepts- mental grouping of similar ideas etc.

Prototypes- examples

How do we solve problems?

Trial & Error- methodical, logical rule or procedure that guarantees solving a particular problem

Heuristics rules of thumb for problem solving

1. Representative- likelihood based on prototype
2. Availability- estimate likelihood of events on our memory

Insight- sudden realization for a solution

Obstacles to problem solving

• Confirmation Bias- tendency to search for info that confirms ones preconception
• Match Problem (Fixation)- inability to see a problem from a different perspective
• Mental Set- tendency to approach a problem in a particular way if it worked in past
• Functional Fixedness- tendency to think of things only in their usual function
• Overconfidence- more confident than correct
• Framing- way an issue is proposed
• Belief Bias- pre-existing beliefs to go against logic
• Belief Perseverance- clinging to initial beliefs even after being proven wrong

MEMORY

Memory- persistence of learning over time (3 parts)

1. Encoding- processing of info
2. Storage- retention of info
3. Retrieval- taking info out of storage

Recall vs Recognition

Recall- retrieve info from memory

Recognition- identify target from many

Flash Bulb Memory- clear moment of emotionally significant event

Three types of Memory

1. Sensory- initial record of sensory info stored for an instant
2. Short Term- holds a few items briefly, holds up to 7 digits (audio, visual, and integration of audio and visual)
3. Long Term- permanent and limitless storage of memory

Two parts of Long Term

1. Explicit- episodic and semantic memory
2. Implicit- procedural and conditioned memory

Encoding Info

• Primary Effect
• Recency effect
• serial positioning effect

Spacing Effect- DON'T CRAM and Ebbinghaus's Forgetting Curve 

The way we encode

• Visual- encode images
• Acoustic- encode sound
• Semantic- encode meaning

Consturctive Memory- memory not always what they seem

Forgetting

• Retroactive Interference- new info out old info
• Proactive Interference- old info out new info

Storing Memories

• Long term Potential- long lasting enhancement in signal transmission between 2 neurons that results form stimulating them synchronously 

SLEEP 

Sleep- a state of consciousness, less aware of surroundings

Biological Rhythms

• Annual Cycles- seasonal variations
• 28 day: menstrual cycle
• 24 hour: circadian rhythm
• 90 minute cycle: sleep cycle

Circadian Rhythm

• 24 hour clock

Sleep Stages

• 5 stages 
• 90-100 minutes
• 1st 4 are Non Rem sleep
• fifth is rem sleep

1. kind of awake and asleep, Theta waves produced, few minutes
2. "baseline" sleep, 90 minutes, 45-60% of sleep, Theta waves slower, sleep spindls
3. 3 & 4 slow sleep waves, produce delta waves, feel groggy, body restoration and development
4. REM sleep (Rapid Eye Movement) Brain is very active, paradoxical sleep, dreams, body is paralyzed, 20-25% of sleep, vivid dreams, go back to S2

LEARNING

• most learning we do is associative learning

3 main types

1. Classical/Operant conditioning
2. Observational learning/ latent learning
3. Abstract learning/ insight learning

Classical conditioning- started with Ivan Pavlov ( 5 terms)

1. acquisition- ucs causes the cr becoming the cs
2. extinction- the diminishing of a cr
3. spontaneous recovery- reappearance of a cr
4. generalization-  once a a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the cs to cause similar responses
5. discrimination- ability to distinguish between cs and other stimuli

• Unconditioned stimulus (ucs)- stimulus that naturally causes a response
• Unconditioned response (ucr)- natural response to ucs
• Conditioned stimulus(cs)- stimulus that now triggers a response
• Conditioned response (cr)- learned response to a stimulus