Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 31, 2026
08:09
Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood
Published on: February 11, 2017
Psychological essentialism in children.
1University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1109, USA. gelman@umich.edu
Trends in Cognitive Sciences
|September 8, 2004
Summary
Psychological essentialism, the belief in hidden category essences, emerges early in children. This cognitive bias influences word learning and causal reasoning, challenging views of children as concrete thinkers.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Linguistics
Background:
- Psychological essentialism posits that categories possess an unobservable, underlying reality.
- The origins of psychological essentialism, particularly in early childhood, remain a key research question.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review evidence on the developmental origins of psychological essentialism.
- To investigate whether psychological essentialism is an early cognitive bias in young children.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent empirical evidence concerning early childhood cognition.
- Analysis of children's performance in tasks related to word learning, generalization, and causal reasoning.
Main Results:
- Young children exhibit essentialist reasoning across multiple domains, including word learning and generalization.
- Evidence suggests children look beyond superficial features to infer underlying category essences.
- Children's reasoning about nature vs. nurture and causal explanations also reflects essentialist tendencies.
Conclusions:
- Psychological essentialism appears to be an early cognitive bias, not a later development.
- Findings challenge the traditional view of children as concrete thinkers, highlighting their predisposition to seek hidden properties.
- Early essentialism influences fundamental aspects of cognitive development, including concept formation and knowledge acquisition.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
03:00Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
01:24Defining Psychology
Psychology is the scientific discipline dedicated to understanding both observable behavior and the internal mental processes underlying such behavior. It aims to comprehend human nature and apply this understanding to solve practical problems, enhance well-being, and improve societal outcomes. An example of psychology's application is the study of prosocial behavior, such as why and under what conditions individuals might help strangers in need. This process involves describing observed...
01:20Evolutionary Psychology
Evolutionary psychology explores the origins of human behavior and mental processes by framing them within the context of natural selection, a theory famously propounded by Charles Darwin. This field asserts that many behaviors common across human societies — ranging from instinctive fear reactions to complex social interactions — arose as evolutionary adaptations. These adaptations enhanced the survival and reproductive success of our ancestors, thereby becoming embedded in the human psyche...
01:28Adler's Individual Psychology
Alfred Adler, a prominent figure in psychology, founded the school of individual psychology. In contrast to Freud's emphasis on sexual or aggressive motives, Adler suggested that individuals are primarily motivated by their purposes and goals. He believed that people strive for perfection rather than pleasure. Adler argued that individuals could creatively act upon their genetic inheritance and environmental experiences to shape their own lives, emphasizing conscious motivation over unconscious...
01:21The Nativist Approach
The nativist approach to infant cognitive development proposes that infants are born with inherent knowledge structures that allow them to interpret the world almost immediately. This perspective contrasts with earlier developmental theories, such as those proposed by Jean Piaget, which emphasized a more gradual acquisition of cognitive abilities through interaction with the environment. One key concept in this approach is object permanence — the understanding that objects continue to exist...
01:20Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other
According to George Herbert Mead, as children progress beyond the game stage, they develop a more comprehensive understanding of societal rules and norms. This cognitive and social development enables them to internalize the expectations of the broader community, refining their ability to regulate behavior.Consistent participation in organized activities is crucial in helping children recognize that their actions are not isolated but contribute to a more significant, interconnected group effort.