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Updated: Apr 21, 2026

Creating Objects and Object Categories for Studying Perception and Perceptual Learning
Published on: November 2, 2012
The developmental and evolutionary origins of psychological essentialism lie in sortal object individuation
Hannes Rakoczy1, Trix Cacchione2
1Department of Developmental Psychology,University of Göttingen,D-37073 Göttingen,Germany.hannes.rakoczy@psych.uni-goettingen.dewww.psych.uni-goettingen.de/en/development/team/rakoczy-hannes.
Abstract:
Cimpian & Salomon (C&S) present promising steps towards understanding the cognitive underpinnings of adult essentialism. However, their approach is less convincing regarding ontogenetic and evolutionary aspects. In contrast to C&S's claim, the so-called inherence heuristic, though perhaps vital in adult reasoning, seems an implausible candidate for the developmental and evolutionary foundations of psychological essentialism. A more plausible candidate is kind-based object individuation that already embodies essentialist modes of thinking and that is present in infants and nonhuman primates.
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