Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2025
05:21
Characterization of the Sense of Agency over the Actions of Neural-machine Interface-operated Prostheses
Published on: January 7, 2019
8.0K
Ascribing understanding to ourselves and others.
1Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto.
The American Psychologist
|November 27, 2023
Summary
Children learn to understand "understanding" in preschool, enabling self-awareness and advanced reasoning. This cognitive shift impacts language comprehension and social interactions.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Development
- Developmental Psychology
- Philosophy of Mind
Background:
- Adults attribute understanding to infants, animals, and computers.
- Young children initially lack the ability to ascribe understanding to themselves or others.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental trajectory of attributing understanding.
- To explore the cognitive benefits of self-ascription of understanding.
Main Methods:
- The study likely involved observational and experimental methods with preschool-aged children.
- Analysis focused on the emergence of the concept of "understand" and its implications.
Main Results:
- Children begin to ascribe understanding to themselves and others in late preschool years.
- Mastering the word "understand" is crucial for this cognitive development.
Conclusions:
- Self-ascription of understanding facilitates introspection, metacognition, and understanding of complex linguistic forms like hypotheticals.
- This competence is vital for both spoken language comprehension and reading skills.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:19Self-Concept
29
Self-concept is the cognitive and emotional understanding individuals hold about their identity. It evolves through various developmental stages, beginning in infancy and maturing as children grow. This concept influences how individuals perceive their abilities, interact with others, and manage challenges throughout life.
Infancy and Emerging Recognition
During infancy, self-concept is virtually nonexistent. Babies do not distinguish themselves as separate entities and often mistake their...
Infancy and Emerging Recognition
During infancy, self-concept is virtually nonexistent. Babies do not distinguish themselves as separate entities and often mistake their...
29
02:57The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison
49.9K
According to Charles Cooley, we base our image on what we think other people see (Cooley 1902). We imagine how we must appear to others, then react to this speculation. We don certain clothes, prepare our hair in a particular manner, wear makeup, use cologne, and the like—all with the notion that our presentation of ourselves is going to affect how others perceive us. We expect a certain reaction, and, if lucky, we get the one we desire and feel good about it. But more than that, Cooley...
49.9K
01:14Fundamental Attribution Error
12.9K
According to some social psychologists, people tend to overemphasize internal factors as explanations—or attributions—for the behavior of other people. They tend to assume that the behavior of another person is a trait of that person, and to underestimate the power of the situation on the behavior of others. They tend to fail to recognize when the behavior of another is due to situational variables, and thus to the person’s state. This erroneous assumption is...
12.9K
02:16Self-Schemas
31.1K
In general, a schema is a mental construct consisting of a cluster or collection of related concepts (Bartlett, 1932). There are many different types of schemata, and they all have one thing in common: schemata are a method of organizing information that allows the brain to work more efficiently. When a schema is activated, the brain makes immediate assumptions about the person or object being observed.
31.1K
00:56Attribution Theory
13.0K
Behavior is a product of both the situation (e.g., cultural influences, social roles, and the presence of bystanders) and of the person (e.g., personality characteristics). Subfields of psychology tend to focus on one influence or behavior over others. Situationism is the view that our behavior and actions are determined by our immediate environment and surroundings. In contrast, dispositionism holds that our behavior is determined by internal factors (Heider, 1958).
13.0K
01:30Social Cognitive Perspective on Personality
546
Social cognitive perspectives on personality emphasize the importance of conscious awareness, beliefs, expectations, and goals in shaping behavior. These perspectives incorporate behaviorist principles, such as learning through reinforcement and conditioning, but extend beyond them by highlighting human reasoning and planning. Unlike traditional behaviorist views, social cognitive theory focuses on how individuals reflect on their past experiences and plan for future outcomes by considering...
546