Lesson 2: Thinking and Memory

Introduction

In the lesson content you will come across some terms in maroon color that are bolded. Look them up in the course Glossary.

Some of this lesson was created using material from General Psychology 20, Alberta Distance Learning Centre.

Overview

Thought and language are two tools used every minute of the waking day. Humans’ very advanced form of thinking sets us apart from all other kinds of animals. Language, too, is a very special mode of human communication for expressing emotions, abstract thoughts, and useful day-to-day information. Consider just one aspect of our life– leisure–and consider the immense changes that would occur without language. The restrictions would be overwhelming! With the multitude of people that populate the earth, could we survive without a complex system of thought and language even if we were to regress to the very simplest lifestyle?

Lesson 2 focuses on several topics:

• First Memories
• The Brain: Thinking Power
• Left Brain/Right Brain
• Tools for Thinking: Language and Symbols
• Thinking Basics
• Thinking Processes: Remembering
• Thinking Processes: Reasoning
• Thinking Processes: Critical Thinking
• Thinking Problems: Forgetting
• Communication Problems: Dyslexia
• Concentration Problems: Attention Deficiency Disorder
• Interrelating Problems: Autism
• The Element of Colour

 

Before we begin this lesson, think about some of the useful learning techniques that were presented. One of the values of learning is to apply knowledge to bring about improvements and make a difference. To learn something beneficial and not use it as a waste.

Take a few minutes. You are expected to exercise your brain before you begin because this lesson is mentally challenging.

Remember to use these techniques with all your future lessons to build your learning power skills.