Cognition and Perception

Chapter 6 explores the ways culture shapes our cognitive skills and abilities. It discusses cognitive thinking styles, measuring field dependence-independence, holistic and analytic cognition, and applying thinking styles to children’s classroom experiences. It discusses intelligence, intelligence models by Sternberg and Gardner, and culture-specific and cross-cultural studies on intelligence. It also addresses measuring intelligence, culture-specific intelligence tests, factors that shape intelligence such as socioeconomic status and cultural practices, and psychometric tests and cultural fairness. Finally, it explores IQ and social justice; Piaget’s theory; Piaget and culture; problem-solving and culture; and visual perception, including visual illusions and the carpentered world hypothesis. This chapter includes a case study, Culture Across Disciplines box, chapter summary, key terms, a What Do Other Disciplines Do? section, thought-provoking questions, and class and experiential activities.