Cognition, Language and Creativity

1. Cognition, Language and Creativity Chapter 10 McElhaney

2. Basics • Language is used to encode information • Animals are capable of rudimentary language use only with aid of human intervention. • Problem solving = acquired knowledge + strategies • Creative Thinking= is novel, new, divergent

3. What is thinking? • Cognition- mentally processing information • Cognitive Psychology- is the study of human information processing. • Thinking is an internal representation (mental expression) of a problem or situation

4. Basic Units of Thought • Images • Concepts: ideas, representations- by class of related concepts • Language: words symbols + rules for combining them

5. People use Visual Images Auditory Images Synesthesia: images cross normal sensory barriers Colors, tastes, odors People use imagery: Decision making- problem solving Change Feelings <thinking> To improve skill and prepare for action To aid memory Mental Imagery

6. Mental Images are 3-D • Mental rotation is possible making imagined movements • The Minds Eye- • 1. Brain areas where memories are stored • 2. Send signals back to visual cortex • 3. Where images are created

7. Using Mental Images • We use stored images • Info from memory is used • We apply past experiences to problem solving • Created images are- ideas/images not remembered but created • Artists see the image and it is created

8. Kinesthetic Imagery • Muscular sensations • Important in music, sports, and dance • Micro-movements= occur in connection between muscle activity + thinking

9. Concepts • Idea that represents a class of objects or events • Very abstract • Identify features of objects • Conceptual thinking is the ability to classify into categories

10. Concept Formation • Concepts are learned • Process of classifying information into meaningful categories • Concepts are identified by: • Positive Instances vs. Negative Instances • Items are classified as either part of a concept or not.

11. Conceptual Rules • Help us decipher– • Help us order concepts

12. Conjunction Concepts- Must have 2 or more features “In conjunction with” Relational Concepts- With principal definitions of concept based on relations Example: Sister and brother Below and under Disjunctive Concepts Concepts must have one of several possible features “It must have this feature or that feature” Either or qualities Types of Concepts

13. Types of Concepts 2 • Prototypes- ideal models to identify concepts- • Examples of concept • Connotative Meaning: emotional or personal meaning/understanding • Connote = Ideas about, signifies • Measured by Semantic Differential- qualitative rating • Based on a scale • Denotive Meaning- word definition, is exact definition

14. Faulty Concepts • Are understandings that lead to thinking errors. • Example= Social Stereotypes • Over simplified (beliefs or) concepts of people • One dimensional thought

15. Language • Thinking relies heavily on language • Words encode (translate) the world into symbols. • Semantics = study of the meaning if words • Words get meaning from Context • Semantics affect thinking when words we use alter meaning

16. Skinner: Behaviorist: Operant Learning of language Association- sights of things with sounds of words Imitation- of words and syntax modeled by others Reinforcement- with success and smiles “The vocal musculature became susceptible to operant conditioning” Chomsky = inborn universal grammar Behavior explanation is over simplified Language naturally occurs But still needs nurture Thinking process Children learn their environment’s language Children begin using morphemes in a predictable order Your ability to learn language is inborn. Debate over Acquisition of Language

17. Chomsky 2 • All human languages have the same grammatical building blocks = Universal Grammar • Nouns, verbs, subjects, objects, negations, questions • Our Brains are pre-wired for language • We all start speaking in nouns, • It happens naturally • Or brains have a language acquisition device • But need to be exposed to language

18. Phonemes: basic speech sounds Morphemes: sounds with meaning “sounds collected into meaningful units” Grammar: set of rules for making sounds into words and sentences Syntax: rules for word order “man bites dog” Chomsky- Unspoken rules we use to change ideas into sentences Universal core patterns: Past Passive Negative Question Structure of Language

19. We can generate new thoughts or ideas Language Is not limited to speech American Sign Language Language is productive Gestural Language

20. No evidence of formal language Only simple messages Examples: Vicki Washoe chimp (the Gardners) Used sign language 240 signs 6 word sentences Sarah Chimp Used magnetic symbols Learned to question Label things Classify objects, color, size, and shape Kanzi Chimp Found chimps able to produce language based on Lexigrams- machine buttons + symbols primitive sentences Animal Languages?

21. Criticism of Animal Language • People say it doesn’t work • Simply an operant response to get food • Counter response- said yes they use symbols hold conversations • Patterns + Similar to conversations like young children

22. Problem Solving • Mechanical solutions • Trial and error • Rote- thinking is guided by a learned set of rules • Solving by Understanding • Deeper Comprehension of a problem (helps solving) • Discover general properties of a solution • General solution identifies the requirements for success • Proposes a series of functional (workable) solutions • Then chooses the best one

23. Algorithm A step-by-step procedure that guarantees a solution Heuristics A strategy for identifying and evaluating problems and solutions Then random search limiting the number of alternatives then apply trial and error “car doesn’t start check the battery” Algorithms and Heuristics

24. IDEAL Strategy • Heuristic=have a general thinking strategy • Bransford- researcher, 5 steps • Identify • Define- problem clearly • Explore- possible solutions + relevant knowledge • Act-= try a possible solution or hypothesis • Look at results and learn from results

25. Insight • Involves selective encoding- selecting infor that is relevant to a problem • Ignore distractions • Selective Combinations • Bringing together seemingly unrelated bits of useful information • Selective Comparison • Ability to compare new problems with old info or with problems already solved

26. Insightful Solutions • Insight = seeing a solution • Rapid and clear info-ideas about a topic • Create insight by reorganizing a problem • See it in new ways and then see new solutions

27. Barrier to Problem Solving:Fixation • Characterized by- becoming blind to alternatives • Tendency to be “hung up” on wrong solutions • Caused by unnecessary restrictions on our thinking

28. Restricted Thinking • Functional Fixedness- not able to think outside the box • Inability to see new uses for familiar objects • or things we use in a particular way

29. Other Barriers • Emotional Barrier • Inhibition, fear of making a fool of oneself • Fear of making a mistake • Inability to tolerate ambiguity • Excessive self-criticism • Cultural Barriers • Cultural views prevent creative problem solving • Learned Barriers- • Conventions about user- • Traditional views limit possibilities • Perceptual Barriers • Habits lead to lack of solutions

30. Creative Thinking Fluency- total # of suggestions Flexibility- # of times you shift from one class of possible uses to another Originality- refers to ow novel or unusual the suggestions are

31. Creative Thinking • Must be practical or sensible • Inductive Thinking • Specific to the facts or general principles • Deductive Thinking • Going from general principles to specific principles • Logical Thinking • Proceeding from given information to new conclusions on the bais of explicit rules • Conclusions base don formal principals of reasonsing • Illogical • Intuitive, associated or personal

32. Creative Thinking • Divergent Thinking • Convergent thinking

33. Test of Creativity • Unusual Uses Test • Person tries to think of as many possible uses for some object • Consequences Test • Goal to list the consequences that would follow a basic change • Anagram Test • Use a word • Find as many new words as possible by rearranging the letters

34. Stages of Creative Thought • Orientation • Define problems, Identify dimensions • Preparation • Collect and use as much info as possible • Incubation • Time is needed to process and think • Illumination • Insight gained “light bulb” goes off • Verification

35. Creative Personality

36. Creative Characteristics

37. Logic and Intuition