Chapter 10 Flashcards
(42 cards)
What is intelligence? What are its key features?
Intelligence is the ability to learn, reason, solve problems, and adapt to new situations. Key features include:
* Problem-solving ability
* Abstract reasoning
* Adaptability
* Learning from experience
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What are some conditions that cause intellectual disability?
• Genetic conditions (e.g., Down syndrome)
• Prenatal factors (e.g., fetal alcohol syndrome)
• Brain injuries
This suggests intelligence is closely linked to brain development and function.
What is the Flynn Effect? What are possible explanations?
• The Flynn Effect is the steady rise in IQ scores over generations.
• Possible explanations:
* Better education
* Improved nutrition
* More cognitively demanding environments
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Explain Galton’s approach to measuring intelligence. What did he discover, and what didn’t work?
• Measured intelligence using sensory abilities and reaction times.
• Found that these did not correlate with intelligence as we define it today.
What is a normal distribution, and how does its curve relate to standard deviation scores?
• Normal distribution: A symmetrical bell-shaped curve.
• Most IQ scores cluster around the mean (100), with standard deviations of 15 points.
* 68% of people fall within 1 SD (85-115 IQ)
* 95% fall within 2 SDs (70-130 IQ)
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Why did Binet and Simon develop their intelligence test?
To identify children needing special education in France.
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In what three ways did Binet and Simon summarize intelligence?
- Judgment
- Attention
- Reasoning
What is ‘mental age,’ and how was it determined?
• The level of intelligence based on the average abilities of a given age group.
• Determined by comparing test performance to the typical performance of children at different ages.
What was Binet and Simon’s most important contribution to intelligence testing?
The idea that intelligence is not fixed and can be improved with education and training.
How did Lewis Terman develop the Stanford-Binet test?
• Adapted Binet’s test for use in the U.S.
• Standardized it using a larger sample of American children.
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IQ Formula: How do you calculate IQ using mental age and chronological age?
IQ = (Mental Age / Chronological Age) × 100
* Example: Mental age = 11, Chronological age = 10
* IQ = (11/10) × 100 = 110
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What was the main mathematical problem with the Stanford-Binet test?
• IQ formula did not work well for adults, since mental age stops increasing significantly after a certain point.
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How did Wechsler correct for this problem?
He created the WAIS (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale), which compared IQ relative to the average of the same-age group instead of using mental age.
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What is the WAIS? What are its advantages over previous tests?
• Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)
• Advantages:
* Measures multiple types of intelligence (verbal & performance)
* Removes age-related bias
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What are Raven’s Progressive Matrices? What problem did they solve?
• Nonverbal IQ test that measures pattern recognition.
• Designed to reduce cultural and language bias in IQ testing.
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What are ‘inspection time’ and ‘choice reaction time’ tests? What do they measure?
• Inspection time: Measures how quickly a person processes visual information.
• Choice reaction time: Measures how fast a person makes simple decisions.
• Inspired by Galton’s idea that intelligence relates to processing speed.
What was the eugenics movement?
A movement advocating for selective breeding to ‘improve’ the human race, often through unethical policies.
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What were the propositions of Social Darwinism? Why is this theory incorrect?
• Claimed that only the ‘fittest’ should survive and thrive in society.
• Incorrect because:
* Misapplies biological evolution to social systems.
* Justifies inequality without scientific basis.
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How did eugenics and Social Darwinism affect Western culture and history?
• Led to forced sterilizations
• Influenced immigration laws
• Used to justify racist and classist policies
What was Terman’s biggest error in intelligence testing?
• Ignored environmental factors affecting intelligence.
• Overemphasized genetics.
What is stereotype threat? How does it affect IQ testing?
• Fear of confirming a negative stereotype affects performance.
• Example: Women perform worse on math tests when reminded of gender stereotypes.
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What is perceived intelligence? How might it affect IQ scores?
• Perceived intelligence: How intelligent someone appears to be.
• Biases in testing and evaluation may influence IQ scores.
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Can intelligence be changed?
Somewhat. Education, training, and environment can influence intelligence.
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What are two main cognitive tasks where males and females show differences?
- Males: Mental rotation tasks.
- Females: Verbal fluency.
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