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Exploring the Possible: A Unifying Cognitive and Evolutionary Approach to Art
Francis F Steen1, Santanu Chakraborty2,3
1Department of Communication, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
Frontiers in Psychology
|April 11, 2022
Summary
The arts and play emerge from the inherent risks of exploration, driving human adaptation and survival. These cognitive modes push boundaries, offering intrinsic enjoyment and aiding evolutionary success.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- The subjective experience of art challenges traditional psychological analysis.
- Evolutionary pressures favor exploration despite inherent risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the evolutionary origins of art and play.
- To analyze art as a risky cognitive exploration.
- To understand adaptations mitigating exploration risks.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of cognitive and behavioral exploration.
- Examination of evolutionary pressures on adaptation.
- Exploration of risk-benefit dynamics in decision-making.
Main Results:
- Art and play arise from the tension between exploration risks and benefits.
- Adaptations have evolved to reduce exploration costs and guide searches.
- Cognitive flexibility in exploration significantly impacts human survival.
Conclusions:
- The arts represent a unique cognitive strategy for exploring the unknown.
- Intrinsic enjoyment motivates this exploration, driving perceptual and cognitive novelty.
- This exploration is a key factor in human evolutionary success.
Keywords:
actualizabiity functionartistic explorationcommunicative potentialdecision theoryperceptual affordancespossibility spaceprobabilistic value assessmentprospective costMore Related Videos
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