psych quiz chaps 8+9

• general intelligence (g-factor) - measure of overall intelligence, coordinates all of the specific abilities
• g-factors account for why performance on one item of a test is positively correlated with all other items, different test questions measure different types of specific abilities
• performance on a specific task is related to both g and specific abilities
• fluid intelligence - ability to learn new ways of solving problems and new info. more likely to decline with age
• crystallized intelligence - accumulated knowledge over time
• multiple intelligences - idea that people vary in their ability levels across different domains of intellectual skill. it says that g is only one type of intelligence, 8 different types proposed
• Howard Gardner identified 8 types of intelligences: linguistic, logico-mathematical, spatial, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalistic
• linguistic intelligence - intelligence for speaking and writing well, used by authors, poets, journalists, announcers, teachers
• spatial intelligence - intelligence for thinking and reasoning about objects in three-dimensional space, used by photographers, interior designers, pilots, graphic designers, artists
• logico-mathematical intelligence - intelligence for use of logic and mathematical skills to solve problems such as scientific questions, used by accountants, mathematicians, scientists, engineers, computer programmers
• musical intelligence - intelligence for performing, understanding, and enjoying music, used by singers, composers, music teachers, DJs, and pianists
• bodily-kinesthetic intelligence - intelligence for manipulating the body in sports, dance, or other physical endeavors, used by athletes, coaches, massage therapists, and physical therapists
• interpersonal intelligence - intelligence for understanding and interacting effectively with others, used by therapists, travel agents, mediators, nurses, salespeople
• intrapersonal intelligence - intelligence for understanding and possessing insight into oneself, used by counselors, psychologists, business owners, consultants, and trainers
• naturalistic intelligence - intelligence for recognizing, identifying, and understanding animals, plants, and other living things, used by environmentalists, vets, zoologists, botanists, meteorologists
• it is important to note that there is not enough evidence that the 8 types of intelligence are as separate as Gardner describes them to be
• Savant syndrome - a rare condition where a person has a high level of intellectual ability in a specific area but struggles with language, social skills
• Robert Sternberg proposed a Triarchic model for intelligence with three domains, which are analytical intelligence, practical intelligence, and creative intelligence
• analytical intelligence - part of Triarchic model, book smarts
• practical intelligence - part of Triarchic model, street smarts
• creative intelligence - part of Triarchic model, creativity
• biology of intelligence - up to 50% of intelligence might be hereditary, intelligence and brain size are positively correlated
• multiple parts of the brain are associated with mental abilities, especially the prefrontal cortex. both reaction time and brain size are positively correlated with intelligence
• Stanford Binet IQ test - one of the first tests to measure intelligence, produces an intelligence quotient as a result
• intelligence quotient (IQ) - a systematic way to measure differences between people's intelligence, calculated based on your performance compared to the performance of other people your age
• IQs are standardized with an average of 100 and fall in a bell/normal curve distribution
• intellectual disability - usually an IQ below 70 and an inability to engage in a adequate daily function. different levels of severity based on IQ
• geniuses - usually have an IQ score of 130 or above
• IQ tests are fairly reliable, individual scores do not change significantly across time. they are also fairly valid, they moderately predict academic success
• eugenics - movement meant to 'improve' a population by encouraging those with 'good' genes to reproduce, and/or preventing those with 'bad' genes from reproducing
• IQ tests are often biased, they've historically been extremely Eurocentric and questions often rely on knowledge of a specific culture
• culture-fair tests have been designed to minimize the possibility of cultural factors impacting IQ tests. they often test non-verbal abilities, ex pattern recognition
• IQ differences between groups can almost be almost entirely explained by social and environmental factors, as IQ test bias has been removed but are also not a result of genetic differences
• thinking - any mental activity or processing of information. this includes learning, remembering, perceiving, communicating, believing, and deciding
• cognitive bias - systematic error in thinking
• problem solving - using a cognitive strategy to accomplish a goal
• insight - a sudden mental reorganization of a problem that makes the solution obvious. associated with a burst of activity in the temporal lobe, which is involved with recognition
• there are two strategies for problem solving, which are algorithms and heuristics
• algorithm - step by step procedure used to solve a problem. always guarantees a solution but can be time consuming
• heuristic - mental short cuts used to solve a problem. doesn't always guarantee the correct solution but saves time