This document discusses various aspects of language and decision-making. It describes the core components of language, including phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. It also examines theories of how language is acquired and whether other animals possess language-like communication abilities. The document then explores models of the decision-making process and common heuristics and biases that can influence problem solving, such as availability bias and belief bias. Problem-solving skills and overcoming obstacles to effective problem solving are also addressed.

1. Language &
Decision Making

2. Language

3. Language
• Our spoken written or
gestured words and
the way we combine
them to communicate
meaning.
Believe it or not, this
communication is a form
of language!!!

4. Grammar
• A system of rules in a
language that enables
us to communicate and
understand others.

5. Phonemes
• In a spoken
language, the
smallest distinctive
sound unit.
• e.g. Chug has three
phonemes, ch, u, g.
How many phonemes
does chicken have?
map  tap
/m/ /t/

6. Syntax
• The rules for
combining words
into grammatically
sensible sentences.
Is this the White House
or the House White?

7. Morphemes
• In a language, the
smallest unit that
carries meaning.
• Can be a word or part
of a word (prefix or
suffix).
• Mental Lexicon

8. Semantics
• The set of rules by
which we derive
meaning in a
language.
• Adding ed at the
end of words
means past tense.
SEMANTIC CASES

9. Nature or Nurture?
• Social-Learning
Theory
– Skinner
– Differs from
Social-Cognitive
Theory (Bandura)

10. Chomsky
Inborn Universal Grammar
• We acquire language
too quickly for it to
be learned.
• We have this
“learning box” inside
our heads that
enable us to learn
any human language.

11. Whorf’s Linguistic Relativity
• The idea that
language
determines the way
we think (not vice
versa).
– Strong or weak?

12. Do Animals think?
Is human language special in
any way?

13. What is language?
 Language vs. communication
 Why do we say that bees do not have a “language?”

14. Apes
• Maybe they could use
a simpler proto-
language?
• Ability not used?
• 3 methods
– Natural speech
– ASL- sign language
– Lexigram signs

15. Gua
(Kellogg & Kellogg, 1933)
– Raised as a family member (9
months)
– Intimate relationship

16. In spite of all this, Gua
– Never produced intelligible words
– Only understood few
Where is your
nose?

17. Different physiology
Larynx higher -> smaller pharynx and nasal cavity

18. Washoe
(Gardner & Gardner, 1960’s)
• Started to learn at 11 months
• Brouht up as a deaf child (games,
social activities)
► ASL, American Sign Language

19. Koko and Dr. Patterson

20. Conclusions about ape studies
ape
• Here and now
• No syntax
• explicit teaching
• Does not refuse badly formed
sentences
• Rarely forms questions
• Not using symbols spontaneuosly
• Banana me me me eat.
child
• Sense of time
• syntax
• No explicit teaching – spontaneous
signs with deaf children)
• Refuses badly formed sentences
• Frequent questions
• Referential use of symbols
• I am going to eat all the bananas.

21. Decision Making &
Problem Solving

22. The Decision-Making Process
 Define the problem.
 Clarify your objectives.
 Identify alternatives.
 Analyze the consequences.
 Make a choice.

23. The Decision-Making Process
• Is this how you make all your
decisions?
–Do you quantify cost and expected
value?
–Make the most rational choice?
• Subjective Utility

24. • Algorithm
–methodical, logical rule or procedure
that guarantees solving a particular
problem
Problem Solving
• Heuristic
–rule-of-thumb strategy that often allows
us to make judgments and solve
problems efficiently

25. –rule of thumb for judging the likelihood
of things in terms of how well they
seem to represent, or match,
particular prototypes
–may lead one to ignore other relevant
information
Representative Heuristic

26. –judging the likelihood of an event
based on how readily available
other instances are in memory
–Fluency
Availability Heuristic

27. Insight

28. • Using these
materials, how
would you
mount the
candle on a
bulletin board?
The Candle-Mounting Problem

29. 9-Dot Problem

30. • Belief Bias
– the tendency for one’s preexisting beliefs to
distort logical reasoning
– Confirmation bias
• Belief Perseverance
– clinging to one’s initial conceptions after the
basis on which they were formed has been
discredited
Further Obstacles to
Problem Solving

31. • Overconfidence
• Framing: the way an issue is posed
–how an issue is framed can
significantly affect decisions and
judgments
Overcoming Obstacles to
Problem Solving