Tag: Cognitive Psychology

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12. Belief Formation: The interaction of Spinoza and Bartlett's Models

Belief Formation: The Interaction of Spinoza and Bartlett’s Models

This article introduces the Spinozan Model of belief formation and Bartlett’s Theory of Effort After Meaning. The interaction between them at different stages in our lives offers valuable insights into how we can better educate, protect against misinformation, and cultivate adaptability in belief systems.

The article can be downloaded free of charge in pdf form at https://rational-understanding.com/my-books#belief-formation

Imagine a scenario where a false claim, such as the notion that certain foods can cure chronic diseases, spreads widely on social media. Many people, overwhelmed by the volume of information and lacking the time to scrutinise sources, may accept this claim as true. This automatic acceptance highlights the vulnerabilities described in the Spinozan model of belief formation. Furthermore, even when credible evidence debunks the claim, entrenched beliefs shaped by existing mental frameworks, as explained by Bartlett’s theory, make it difficult for individuals to revise their understanding.

By studying how beliefs are formed and altered and addressing the vulnerabilities in these processes, we can better equip individuals to critically evaluate information, resist misinformation, and adapt to an ever-changing informational landscape.

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11. A Deep Dive into Beliefs Schemata Tropes and Culture

A Deep Dive into Beliefs, Schemata, Tropes, and Culture

In today’s interconnected world, understanding how our beliefs, cultural frameworks, and social structures interact is more crucial than ever. In my latest article, A Deep Dive into Beliefs, Schemata, Tropes, and Culture, I explore these foundational elements of human cognition and culture, offering insights into how they shape individual behaviour, societal norms, and cultural evolution.

At its heart, the article examines the Modified Morphogenetic Cycle, an original extension of Margaret Archer’s framework, which includes the often-overlooked interplay between human cognition and the natural environment. This innovation provides a comprehensive model to understand how individual schemata, shared tropes, and societal culture influence, and are influenced by, our surroundings.

Key highlights include:

  • Schemata as Cognitive Foundations: How individual mental frameworks shape beliefs and behaviour.
  • Tropes and Cultural Patterns: The emergent collective structures that guide societal values and norms.
  • Dynamic Interactions: How culture and societal structures evolve through individual agency and collective action.
  • Implications for Change: Practical applications for interdisciplinary collaboration, problem-solving, and fostering innovation in an ever-changing world.

This article not only explains these concepts but demonstrates their application to real-world challenges, from gender equality to environmental sustainability. Whether you’re a researcher, educator, or curious thinker, this exploration offers tools to bridge divides and create meaningful change. For the full article, please visit https://rational-understanding.com/my-books#a-deep-dive or https://www.academia.edu/126718325/A_Deep_Dive_into_Beliefs_Schemata_Tropes_and_Culture

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06. Systems Theory from a Cognitive and Physicalist Perspective

Systems Theory from A Cognitive and Physicalist Perspective Updated

This paper, is available for download in pdf form at https://rational-understanding.com/my-books#Systems-Theory-from-a-Cognitive-and-Physicalist-Perspective

It was originally published in January, 2023, has been updated to include observations from:

  • “A Conceptual Framework for General System Theory”, John A. Challoner, March, 2024.
  • “Different Interpretations of Systems Terms” sent to the Research towards a General Systems Theory SIG of the International Society for the Systems Sciences’ in April, 2024.
  • “The Mathematics of Language and Thought”, John A. Challoner, 2021.

The paper discusses systems theory from a cognitive and physicalist perspective. The cognitive perspective holds that we are our minds and cannot escape the constraints imposed by their biology and evolutionary history. Nevertheless, human cognition is a reasonably accurate representation of reality. Physicalism holds that space-time comprises the whole of reality and that everything, including abstract concepts and information, exists within it.

From this perspective, conceptual and theoretical frameworks for systems theory are proposed and described. Concepts include: the importance of structure; the nature of relationships, causality, and physical laws; and the significance of recursion, hierarchy, holism, and emergence. Human cognitive factors are also discussed, including: their limitations; the nature of information and language; and the search for knowledge in a world of complexity and apparent disorder.

The paper includes the implications of this perspective for General System Theory and Social Systems Theory, suggesting further work to advance those disciplines.