...for Social Anthropology, Halle, Germany Niclas Burenhult (Niclas.Burenhult@mpi.nl) Olivier Le Guen (ompleguen@gmail.com) Lund University, Sweden, & MPI for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands CIESAS, México DF, Mexico Thora Tenbrink (tenbrink@uni-bremen.de) SFB/TR8 Spatial Cognition, Bremen University, Germany Lisa Hüther (lisa.huether@psychologie.uni-freiburg.de) Department of Psychology, Freiburg University, Germany Space is a fundamental domain for cognition, and research on spatial perception, orientation, referencing, and reasoning addresses core questions in most of the disciplines that make up the cognitive sciences. Consequently, space represents one of those domains for which various disciplinary interests overlap to a substantial extent. For instance, the question of whether and how spatial cognition and language interact has been one of the core questions since early on (e.g., Clark, 1973; Miller & Johnson-Laird, 1976), and yet, consensus between psychologists and linguists is difficult to achieve (e.g., Li & Gleitman, 2002, vs. Levinson et al., 2002). Perhaps most controversial in this dispute is the extent to which spatial cognition is culturally variable (for linguistic variability, see also Evans & Levinson, 2009, and comments there-in). Expanding the space of cognitive science research to ‘nonstandard’ cultures (Henrich et al., 2010; Medin et al., 2010) is thus crucial for the advancement of cognitive science. For this...
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...Language Essay Ryan Butler Psychology 360 August 29, 2011 Professor Newlin LANGUAGE Have you ever wondered how we speak? How about why our communication is considered a language and other animal’s communication is not considered language? A wide range of beliefs exist on what defines language. Thus, by exploring the definition of language and lexicon, evaluating language’s key features, the four levels of language structure and processing, and the role of language in Cognitive Psychology, an understanding of what language is becomes clear. Let us begin by defining language and a term named lexicon. LANGUAGE AND LEXICON DEFINITION One big question, when the subject of language comes up, is exactly what language is. What constitutes something as a language? By explaining one definition of a language, and a term associated with language, called a lexicon, a definition of language transpires. Thus, the Willingham (2007) text mentions four certain characteristics communication must possess to, officially, be considered a language. One of these characteristics is that language must be communicative, and thus be communication between individuals in some form or another. Secondly, the symbols standing for words must be arbitrary, and thus have no reason for representing a word. Third, a language must be structured, and not arbitrary. For example, if I say a dog was walking on a sidewalk I cannot say a sidewalk was walking on a dog. etc. Fourth, a language must be...
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...Walker August 8, 2012 INTRODUCTION This paper will examine the cognitive processes of attention, language, and problem solving. This paper will explain the purpose of each cognitive processes. This paper will also summarize and evaluate the studies of these cognitive processes and also the research methodology that they focus on. Cognitive processes are very important for human behavior. It is about the knowledge and the way people use his or her knowledge. Cognitive processes affect individuals in everyday life, often occurring within fractions of a second. EXPLAIN THE PURPOSE OF EACH COGNITIVE PROCESS Language is used to communicate feelings, thoughts, and ideas effectively. The use of language begins at a very young age, some would agree before birth. Language is spoken in a mixture of techniques from oral, to sign language to body language. In language there is a collection of terms, which is related to a particular topic, and the collection of terms is identified as a lexicon. Language and lexicon mutually combined because of the recollection of vocabulary or verbal communication, which transmits to cognitive psychology because the occurrence of lexical judgments in processing vocabulary in the cognitive mind. The main aspects of verbal communication are communicative, uninformed, controlled, generative, and self-motivated. The communicative part of language is the speech between two individuals. The uniformed part is the relationship between verbal communication...
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...Social Cognition ECE: 353 Cognitive Development of Infants and Young Children Instructor: Sandi Levinson August 14, 2012 Social Cognition Social cognition refers to the awareness of one’s own and other people’s mental states (i.e., acquiring a theory of mind), including emotions, motives, desires and feelings. Socio-cognitive skills, such as the ability to understand, describe and predict people’s mental states, allow children to develop a strong social cognition (Moore, 2010). Developing social and cognitive awareness is especially important during infancy to prepare children to interact properly with the social world prior to school entry. For example, it is through group activities that children gradually learn the importance of sharing. This crucial ability originates from children’s understanding that other children may have a desire to play with the same toys (Moore,2010). Along the same line, recent evidence indicates that children’s socio-cognitive skills may have a direct impact on the quality of their relationships and school success. Children with a more developed social cognition tend to be better communicators, socially competent, popular with peers, happier at school, and academically more advanced. In contrast, those with poor social cognition are more likely to have difficulty making the transition to school, to react more violently in face of harsh parenting, and to experience difficulties in school that may be misread as conduct problems...
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...Every field of studies has its own way of understanding of the language. So it is easy to see that religious language has its own different way of understanding from others. But there has clearly been a long shift of meaning between the familiar secular use of these words and their theological employment because the religious language expresses an transcendent reality which is God and the relationship between God and human. And the problem is how to understand the meaning of words which are used in the secular context when they are applied to God and the relationship between God and human. In this essay, I want to discuss about the peculiarity of religious language through two doctrine: the doctrine of analogy of Thomas Aquinas and the doctrine of the "symbolic" nature of religious language of Paul Tillich. I also want to express some problem of meaning of words after the Incarnation and make a difference between the scientific cognition and the religious cognition in languages used in these fields. I hope that all of us will have a good realization about the true meaning of religious language and be patient on the way to find out the lessons in the religious books when we read it. The doctrine of analogy According to the young Aquinas, there are three kinds of analogy: analogy according to Meaning but Not According to Be, analogy according to Be but Not According to Meaning and analogy according to Meaning and to Be. For the first kind, there is the analogy according to meaning...
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...information. This fairly new branch of psychology is set up to establish ways to improve memory and increase the ability to make accurate decisions. It is also used in education to develop curriculum that facilitates learning (Cherry, n.d.). Understanding cognition has many implications. In education, it can improve the retention of information and thus place more value on learning. In the work place it could potentially improve efficiency and productivity. Jean Piaget was the first psychologist to systematically study cognitive development, especially in children. He developed many tests to expose various cognitive abilities. Through these tests, he was able to put to rest the assumption that children are less competent thinkers than their adult counterparts. In fact his research showed that children think in ways completely different than adults (Jean Piaget, n.d.). Noam Chomsky argued in the 1950’s that linguistics should be seen as an extension of cognitive psychology; however, he opposed the traditional learning theory of how language is acquired. According to Chomsky’s views, aspects of knowledge and ability in linguistics are a direct result of one’s innate ability to use it. This is termed language acquisition device, or LAD. Language acquisition devices enable children without developmental delays to fabricate systematic grammar and produce phrases (Noam Chomsky, Gale encyclopedia of psychology, 2001). In the mid 1950’s, two computer programmers developed a program that could...
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...Language and Lexicon Penny Rider Psychology 360 July 23, 2012 University of Phoenix Language and Lexicon Humans depend on language to communicate with others. The use of communication can be in many forms, such as verbal, written, or the use of signals. A person uses language to communicate feelings, emotions, thoughts, and fears to others. The use of language sounds are how society learns new and different ways of communicating with the rest of the world and various ways of thinking. Language and language development are important in producing a person’s dynamic and interactive systems. These systems reinforce a person’s instincts pertaining to nature and nurture. The development and learning processes of language helps the mind to distinguish the differences of words to the language coming from sounds. These processes help to a person understand sneezes, coughs, or other sounds coming from the mouth is not the same as sounds of language. The words of language are separated into groups, objects, events, and actions. The process of learning language begins in a person’s early years through nature, starting point, and nurture, environmental influences. A person cannot communicate or understand the meaning of an object without the use of language. The uses of signs are not valuable without the organization into various relationships of language through the translation of concepts. Every culture has different language and lexicon. The vocabulary of language is defined...
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...The Brain and Cognitive Functions Centuries of philosophy and science have been dedicated to unraveling the mystery behind how cognition occurs, how it maps to areas of the brain, and to what degree cognition is dependant upon these various areas in which cognitive activities are located. Modern neuroscience has helped tremendously to provide some answers as have tests on brain trama patients such as Phineas Gage which revealed startling changes in individual behavior that can be linked to damage in specific areas of the brain. Even though studies continue to discover new information, there is strong evidence to support the premise that specific areas of the brain are dedicated to certain cognitive functions. Phineas Gage was an upstanding citizen that lived Cavendish, Vermont in the mid-1800's. Phineas worked as a railroad crew foreman and was considered by his employer to be a highly reliable, responsible man with morals, and a true model citizen. However, an accident that occurred in 1848 drove an iron pole called a tamping iron, through Phineas left cheek and out the top of his skull. According to reports, Phineas was able to get help from a physician, John Martyn Harlow, with whom Phineas carried on a discussion even during the initial treatments. John Martyn Harlow continued to treat Phineas for months after the accident and recorded the substantial changes in Phineas behavior that occurred during that time. It was a significant discovery in modern medicine and some...
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...Language Discussion Psychologists refer language to as an activity that helps people communicate and express thoughts (Sternberg, et al, 370). On the other hand, linguistics focus on the formal approach of language in a system which may be even irrelevant. Psycholinguistics refers language to a system of communication which is either written or spoken that uses words or signs to passing information across a particular community (Bailey 54). Users of a particular language culture with the use of symbols with meanings to share information. According to Hockett all languages used by human beings have common features called linguistic universals. Human beings and animals communicate differently; human language contains 13 features of linguistic...
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...[Most of the articles for the group labeled, “Foundations,”] state or beg the question, “Can machines think?” Another way of asking this question is, “Is cognition distinctly a human phenomenon?” Turing may have been one of the first to promote intelligent capabilities in machines. As technology increases, it seems that Turing may have been right. Today, it is unclear that intelligence and cognition are strictly human. Some of the most heated arguments against science, particularly psychology and biology, seem to center around a perceived threat against humanity. For example, evolution was and still is challenged, in large part, because to believe in evolution means accepting natural selection and similarity among evolved species. Evolution threatens the uniqueness and even the superiority of humankind, according to many opponents. Similarly, the possibility of language in primates is refuted by many, I believe, in large part because this cognitive ability has been believed to be reserved only for humans. John Searle seems to be making a similar argument against what he refers to as “strong” artificial intelligence. Searle argues that “instantiating a program” (422) cannot lead to understanding as a human, or even an animal understands. Searle argues that machines or programs lack “intentionality”, and are meaningless. I sympathize with Searle that it is difficult to accept a machine that shares cognitive capabilities with a human. Such a hypothesis seems to challenge the...
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...in the standard variety of their language is beneficial as it provides a universal mode of communication. Others believe that students are best served by education taught in their own variety of a language, even if it is non-standard. Choose and defend a position in this debate, making sure to explore the benefits and drawbacks of your choice. Focus on a single non-standard variety of English (e.g. AAVE), and evaluate specific benefits and drawbacks of your chosen position from the perspective of both speakers of this variety and educators. 2. Is bilingual acquisition beneficial? Some educators and other professionals believe that the simultaneous acquisition of two languages is confusing for an infant or young child and may delay acquisition of both languages. Others hold the view that not only is simultaneous language acquisition not confusing, the process of learning two languages at the same time is beneficial for the process of acquiring both. Review research on language acquisition with particular focus on bilingual acquisition. What are the advantages and disadvantages of early bilingual acquisition? Which position is more compelling? 3. Is language innate or just part of general cognition? The specific way that we acquire language is a contentious debate in the field of linguistics. Some researchers believe that humans are born with an innate, specialized mental module which facilitates the acquisition of language in young children. Other researchers...
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...Evolution of Cognitive Psychology as a Discipline PSYCH560/Cognitive Psychology December 3rd 2011 Evolution of Cognitive Psychology as a Discipline Cognition Cognition is typically referred to as the procedure of obtaining, retaining, using and applying information or knowledge. It can sometimes be defined as the science of knowing. Cognition “refers to all processes by which the sensory input is transformed, reduced, elaborated, stored, recovered, and used” (Neisser, 1967). When defined broadly, cognition includes the processing of emotions; however, if defined narrowly, it excludes emotion processing. Cognition includes all the mental processes. For example, attaining knowledge and understanding, thinking, remembering, assuming, perceiving, judging and even analytical problem-solving are all part of cognition. Given such a comprehensive definition, it is evident that cognition is concerned in everything a human being might probably do; every psychological experience is a cognitive experience. However, although cognitive psychology is related to all human activity rather than a few segments of it, the apprehension is that it is from a specific point of view yet other viewpoints are evenly justifiable and essential. The Interdisciplinary Perspective & Emergence of Cognitive Psychology As well as being part of psychology as a whole, cognitive psychology is also part of the more general interdisciplinary subject of cognitive...
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...ASSIGNMENT OF CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR | ASSIGNMENT NO 2 | | SECTION-RQ1002 | REGISTRATION NO -11004178 | SUNNY PANDEY | SUBMITTED TO : Mr. MITHILESH PANDEY | | WHAT IS COGNITION? Act or process of knowing. Cognition includes every mental process that may be described as an experience of knowing (including perceiving, recognizing, conceiving, and reasoning), as distinguished from an experience of feeling or of willing. Philosophers have long been interested in the relationship between the knowing mind and external reality; psychologists took up the study of cognition in the 20thcentury. Cognition is the scientific term for mental processes. These processes include attention, remembering, producing and understanding language, solving problems, and making decisions. Cognition is studied in various disciplines such as psychology, philosophy, linguistics, and computer science. Usage of the term varies in different disciplines; for example in psychology and cognitive science, it usually refers to an information processing view of an individual's psychological functions. It is also used in a branch of social psychology called social cognition to explain attitudes, attribution and groups dynamics. ADVERTISEMENT NO 1 I F U ARE SUFFERING FROM BACK PAIN, ENJOY AGAIN YOUR LIFE IN SECONDS JUST PUT A BALM WHICH WILL KICK YOUR PAIN FROM YOUR WAY. APPLY Cognitive part in the advertisement is that it just wants to create awareness...
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...To what extent is Theory of Mind innate? Critically discuss with reference to genetic, social and cultural evidence. Theory of mind refers to an individual’s ability to understand the mental states of others (Baron-Cohen, 1989b). According to Buttelmann et al. (2008) over the years; psychological practice has seen an increase in research, debating whether theory of mind is innate. This apparent increase stems from controversial standard false-belief tasks and its influence on a person’s ability to have an operative theory of mind (Chandler, Fritz & Hala 1989). The connotations of these standard false-belief tasks act as an indicator for specific age boundaries, in which children are meant to start attributing mental states to others, through their understanding of false belief (Perner and Ruffman, 2005; Fodor, 1992; Mitchell,1996). The implications of these standard false-belief tasks will steer this discussion to focus on the extent at which theory of mind can be considered as innate with reference to genetic, social and cultural evidence. According to Whiten, (1993 pg. 3) “a theory of mind remains one of the quintessential abilities that makes us human” .Yet prior to Baron-Cohen’s (1989a) study, the traditional view held by most child developmental psychologists, (Piaget, 1983) was based on the idea that, any understanding of what goes on in another person’s mind has to be a calculated and difficult thing (Appleton and Reddy, 1996). Hence, in order to work...
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...Language is a way of communication and is not just a verbal behavior but physical and biological. Babies are ready to communicate their needs directly out of the womb. A baby is able to tell us when their hungry, uncomfortable, soiled, and sleepy. Our brain is prewired to communicate babies are born with all the neurons they will ever have (SITE). There are many parts of the brain it all connects like a networking center. The brain maturation is a lifelong process that takes time and if it is damaged could have a huge impact on learning and other qualities of life (site). The brain is responsible for speech and learning, the cells that are in the brain can be strengthened and used to retain information. However if the cells...
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