| Title |
How Language Enables Abstraction: A Study in Computational Cultural Psychology
|
|---|---|
| Published in |
Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science, May 2011
|
| DOI | 10.1007/s12124-011-9165-8 |
| Pubmed ID | |
| Authors |
Yair Neuman, Peter Turney, Yohai Cohen |
| Abstract |
The idea that language mediates our thoughts and enables abstract cognition has been a key idea in socio-cultural psychology. However, it is not clear what mechanisms support this process of abstraction. Peirce argued that one mechanism by which language enables abstract thought is hypostatic abstraction, the process through which a predicate (e.g., dark) turns into an object (e.g., darkness). By using novel computational tools we tested Peirce's idea. Analysis of the data provides empirical support for Peirce's mechanism and evidence of the way the use of signs enables abstraction. These conclusions are supported by the in-depth analysis of two case studies concerning the abstraction of sweet and dark. The paper concludes by discussing the findings from a broad and integrative theoretical perspective and by pointing to computational cultural psychology as a promising perspective for addressing long-lasting questions of the field. |
X Demographics
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Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 1 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
| Type | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Members of the public | 1 | 100% |
Mendeley readers
The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 35 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Korea, Republic of | 1 | 3% |
| Canada | 1 | 3% |
| Unknown | 33 | 94% |
Demographic breakdown
| Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Student > Master | 7 | 20% |
| Student > Ph. D. Student | 5 | 14% |
| Student > Bachelor | 5 | 14% |
| Professor | 3 | 9% |
| Researcher | 2 | 6% |
| Other | 9 | 26% |
| Unknown | 4 | 11% |
| Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 12 | 34% |
| Computer Science | 7 | 20% |
| Social Sciences | 3 | 9% |
| Linguistics | 1 | 3% |
| Nursing and Health Professions | 1 | 3% |
| Other | 5 | 14% |
| Unknown | 6 | 17% |
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 3. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 23 August 2021.
All research outputs
#14,508,759
of 25,233,554 outputs
Outputs from Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science
#241
of 371 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#83,286
of 115,695 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science
#4
of 8 outputs
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