Question 1

A concept is the mental representation of an object,event,or idea.

Accepted Answer

A concept is indeed the mental representation of an object, event, or idea.

Question 2

One problem with the theory that individuals use prototypes to categorize is that it does not allow for the possibility of graded membership.

Accepted Answer

The prototype theory actually accounts for graded membership, as it suggests that some members of a category are more central or typical than others, indicating a gradient of membership based on similarity to a prototype.

Question 3

People tend to judge the probability of an event by how easy it is to think of examples of the event.

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is known as the availability heuristic, where individuals rely on easily accessible information to make judgments about probability or frequency.

Question 4

Research with chimpanzees has clearly demonstrated that nonhumans are capable of acquiring language.

Accepted Answer

While research with chimpanzees has shown they can learn a significant number of signs or symbols and use them in communication, it has not conclusively demonstrated that they can acquire language in the full human sense, including grammar and syntax.

Question 5

All forms of communication can be considered types of language.

Accepted Answer

Language is a specific system of communication that involves structured grammar, syntax, and vocabulary, whereas communication can occur through various means not limited to structured language, such as non-verbal cues, visual symbols, and sounds without linguistic structure.

Question 6

Maximizers tend to be more satisfied than satisficers with their purchases because maximizers spend additional time making sure they find the best product.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that satisficers tend to feel more satisfied with their purchases than maximizers because they are content with finding products that meet their minimum requirements, while maximizers can experience decision fatigue and regret over missed opportunities.

Question 7

The Inuit have hundreds of words for different types of snow.

Accepted Answer

The claim that the Inuit have hundreds of words for snow is a myth. While they do have multiple words for snow, it is not in the hundreds. This misconception arises from the structure of the Inuit language, which uses root words and affixes to create descriptive terms.

Question 8

Children's brains appear to be especially primed to acquire language in a way that adult brains are not.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that children have a biological sensitivity to language acquisition that begins early in their development and gradually declines throughout adolescence. This sensitivity includes the ability to perceive and distinguish the sounds of their native language, as well as to acquire grammar and vocabulary more quickly and with greater flexibility than adults.

Question 9

Basic level categories are always located at the most general level of a semantic network.

Accepted Answer

Basic level categories are typically found at an intermediate level of abstraction in a semantic network, not at the most general level. They represent the most cognitively efficient level of categorization, where objects share many attributes but are still distinct from one another.

Question 10

An algorithm is a problem-solving strategy based on a series of rules.

Accepted Answer

An algorithm is a step-by-step methodology for solving a problem, based on a set of rules or instructions.

Deck 8: A: Thought and Language