Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2025
09:49
Methods to Explore the Influence of Top-down Visual Processes on Motor Behavior
Published on: April 16, 2014
25.2K
Core knowledge, visual illusions, and the discovery of the self
Marlene D Berke1, Julian Jara-Ettinger1
1Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA marlene.berke@yale.edu; julian.jara-ettinger@yale.edumarleneberke.github.io; compdevlab.yale.edu.
The Behavioral and Brain Sciences
|June 27, 2024
Summary
Core knowledge aids learning about the external world and the mind. This foundational knowledge is essential for understanding oneself and the environment, complementing traditional learning theories.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Science
- Developmental Psychology
- Philosophy of Mind
Background:
- Traditional theories posit core knowledge aids learning from experience and understanding the external world.
- The role of core knowledge in self-understanding and metacognition remains less explored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a novel function of core knowledge: its critical role in learning about the mind.
- To complement existing explanations for the evolutionary and cognitive advantages of core knowledge.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis integrating findings from cognitive science, developmental psychology, and philosophy.
- Theoretical framework development.
Main Results:
- Core knowledge provides essential scaffolding for developing metacognitive abilities and understanding mental states.
- Learning about the mind is facilitated by innate or early-acquired knowledge structures.
Conclusions:
- Core knowledge is fundamental not only for external world learning but also for internal mental state understanding.
- This perspective broadens the functional significance of core knowledge in human cognition.
Related Concept Videos
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
01:19Self-Concept
25
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...
25
01:14Gestalt Psychology
540
Gestalt psychology, founded by Max Wertheimer, Kurt Koffka, and Wolfgang Kohler, emphasizes the importance of understanding perception as an organized whole. Developed as a counter to Wilhelm Wundt's structuralism, this approach posits that our perceptions are more than just the sum of sensory parts; they are comprehensive wholes where the relationships between parts define the perception. The principle "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts" encapsulates this view,...
540
01:17Cognitivism
1.4K
Cognitive psychology emerged as a significant field in the mid-20th century. It focused on understanding humans' internal mental processes. This approach emphasizes how people perceive, remember, think, and solve problems—elements critical to human cognition.
Previously dominated by behaviorism, which prioritized observable behaviors and largely ignored mental processes, psychology transformed in the 1950s. Cognitive psychologists argue that understanding how we think and process...
Previously dominated by behaviorism, which prioritized observable behaviors and largely ignored mental processes, psychology transformed in the 1950s. Cognitive psychologists argue that understanding how we think and process...
1.4K
01:21Gestalt Principles of Perception
287
Gestalt principles provide a framework for understanding how humans perceive objects as unified wholes within their context. These principles are essential in explaining the cognitive processes that make sense of complex visual stimuli by organizing them into coherent groups. One fundamental principle is proximity, which posits that objects located close to each other are perceived as a collective group. For instance, when dots are positioned near one another, the visual system interprets them...
287
01:24Natural and Artificial Concepts
147
In psychology, concepts can be divided into two categories: natural and artificial. Natural concepts are formed through direct or indirect experiences. For example, consider the concept of snow. If you live in a place with regular snowfall, such as Essex Junction, Vermont, you know snow through direct experiences. You’ve seen it fall, touched it, shoveled it, and played in it. You recognize its texture, appearance, and even its smell. In contrast, if you live on an island like Saint...
147