Question 1

According to the ________ metaphor of human cognition, thinking is nothing more or less than information processing.

Accepted Answer

The metaphor of human cognition that suggests thinking is nothing more or less than information processing is best described by comparing it to a computer. Computers are designed to process and manipulate information in a specific way, just as the brain is thought to do.

Question 2

Since the 1990s, what has happened to the trend in intelligence scores called the Flynn effect?

Accepted Answer

The Flynn effect, which refers to the observed rise in IQ scores over time, seems to have stabilized in European samples, while in less developed countries, the trend may still be ongoing or less stable.

Question 3

Vanessa, who is African American, felt that her performance on the entrance exam was being judged by the standard of a negative stereotype when she was told by the assistant principal that White candidates performed 20% better. This is known as

Accepted Answer

The situation described in the question is an example of stereotype threat, which refers to the fear of confirming negative stereotypes about one's social group. In this case, Vanessa is being told that her performance is being judged by a negative stereotype that White candidates perform better, leading to anxiety and potentially hindering her actual performance on the exam.

Question 4

What type of thinking would be advantageous in situations when one has incomplete information upon which to evaluate a situation?

Accepted Answer

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Question 5

A young man from the United Kingdom, Derek Paravicini, is totally blind and suffers from severe intellectual deficits. At the same time, however, he is one of the most gifted musicians many have ever seen. Derek's amazing talent is indicative of

Accepted Answer

Derek's exceptional musical abilities despite his intellectual deficits and blindness are characteristic of savant syndrome. Savant syndrome is a condition in which individuals with developmental disorders or brain injury display extraordinary skills in a particular area, such as music, art, or mathematics.

Question 6

Describe the mental barriers to problem solving.

Accepted Answer

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Question 7

When she meets her blind date for the evening, Marcella immediate gets a negative vibe from him. There is nothing obviously wrong-he is neatly dressed and well-groomed, polite, and reasonably attractive. There is just something that gives Marcella a bad feeling. She makes sure to end the date relatively quickly, and does not go out with him again. Daniel Kahneman would call this quick, intuitive type of thinking

Accepted Answer

This is an example of System 1 thinking, which is quick and intuitive. System 2 thinking, which is slower and more deliberate, would involve analyzing specific details or evidence to determine whether the date is actually good or bad. The other options are not applicable in this situation.

Question 8

While modern intelligence tests are traced back to the early 20th century and France, the fact is that sophisticated mental testing methods were developed in ________ over 2,000 years ago.

Accepted Answer

Sophisticated mental testing methods were indeed developed in China over 2,000 years ago, particularly for the purpose of selecting individuals for government positions. This early form of testing can be considered a precursor to modern intelligence testing.

Question 9

Describe some of the factors that may account for differences between the IQ scores between Black and White people.

Accepted Answer

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Question 10

Which of the following is a desirable characteristic of culture-fair tests?

Accepted Answer

A desirable characteristic of culture-fair tests is that they should minimize or eliminate the use of language, as language can be a barrier for individuals from different cultures who may not speak the same language or have the same level of proficiency in it. A culture-fair test should be designed to measure abilities that are not influenced by an individual's linguistic or cultural background. Choices B, C, D, and E are incorrect because they do not reflect desirable characteristics of culture-fair tests.

Question 11

There is a joke that goes as follows: "How do you tell the difference between a physicist and a labor unionist? You ask them to say the word unionized." The crux of this joke is that each person will have a different ________ that tells them how the word should be pronounced (un-ionized versus union-ized).

Accepted Answer

A schema is a mental framework that helps organize and interpret information. In this case, the physicist and labor unionist each have their own schema for how the word "unionized" should be pronounced based on their background and experiences. The other answer options do not quite fit the context of this joke. A heuristic is a mental shortcut used to make decisions or solve problems. An analogy is a comparison between two things for the purpose of explanation. A script is a mental schema that describes a sequence of events or actions. A mental set is a tendency to approach problems in a certain way based on past experiences.

Question 12

For years, it was believed that theory of mind is a uniquely human quality. Recent research, however, has found that it may exist in nonhuman animals, including all EXCEPT which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Dogs have not been conclusively shown to possess theory of mind, unlike the other animals listed.

Question 13

Shelley Carson's research examining the relationship between creativity and schizotypal personality traits has come to explain this relationship by looking at the common factor of ________. This factor examines how people think outside the box and are not bound by what others consider proper thought processes.

Accepted Answer

Carson's research finds that individuals who score high on measures of creativity and schizotypal personality traits share the common factor of cognitive disinhibition, which refers to the ability to think outside the box and override typical thought processes.

Question 14

Which influential psychologist proposed a theory that led to legislation in 1924 that would limit the immigration of groups believed to be of inferior intellect?

Accepted Answer

Henry Goddard proposed the theory of "moronism" which led to the passage of the Immigration Act of 1924 that restricted immigration of groups believed to be of inferior intellect.

Question 15

Describe Gardner's approach to understanding intelligence.

Accepted Answer

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Question 16

Describe the roles played by schemas and scripts in rational thought.

Accepted Answer

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Question 17

Mauricio is aware of stereotypes that others hold about Latino individuals. He feels that others expect him to be less intelligent than his peers of other races and that they anticipate that he will have less academic success. As a result, Mauricio tends to perform far below his actual ability. Psychologist Claude Steele referred to this as

Accepted Answer

The scenario described is an example of stereotype threat, which refers to the phenomenon of individuals performing worse on tests or tasks when they are aware of negative stereotypes about their social group. This occurs because the anxiety and pressure associated with the stereotype can interfere with cognitive processing and lead to underperformance.

Question 18

Velcro, the hook and loop fastener, was developed after its inventor observed garden burrs sticking to the fur coat of the family dog. This demonstrates the application of ________ in a variety of settings and contexts.

Accepted Answer

The observation that led to the development of Velcro is an example of analogies, which involves seeing similarities between seemingly unrelated concepts and applying them in new contexts. The other options, such as practical intelligence, functional fixedness, mental sets, and convergent thinking, are not as applicable in this scenario.

Question 19

Which of the following factors was found to be associated with a 6% reduction in brain volume in children?

Accepted Answer

Growing up in poverty conditions was found to be associated with a 6% reduction in brain volume in children according to a study published in JAMA Pediatrics. None of the other factors listed have been specifically linked to a 6% reduction in brain volume.

Question 20

When Uncle Sal tells his two nephews to choose a number between 1 and 100, they both usually guess numbers on the low side of the range. If, however, he tells them to guess a number between 100 and 1, they tend to guess closer to the high end of the range. This demonstrates how ________ influences thinking processes.

Accepted Answer

This scenario demonstrates the anchoring effect, which is when an initial piece of information (in this case, the range of numbers given) serves as a reference point or "anchor" for subsequent judgments or decisions. The nephews' guesses are biased toward the anchor, with lower numbers selected when the anchor is high (100) and higher numbers selected when the anchor is low (1).

Quiz 6: Thinking and Intelligence