Embodied Cognition

Question 1

What is social exclusion usually associated with?

Answer 1

Coldness.

Question 2

What do people tend to use to describe social interactions?

Answer 2

Concepts based on bodily states.

Question 3

What did Zhong & Leonardelli’s study show?

Answer 3

Exp1 - recall episode in which you were social excluded. What’s the room temperature?
Exp2 - online ball-tossing game. Excluded and control condition.
Excluded = greater desirability for warmer foods and drinks.

Question 4

What do we usually use metaphors as?

Answer 4

Linguistic elements.

A way to experience and make sense of the world.

Question 5

Explain the link between metaphors and embodiment.

Answer 5

Metaphors have been used to identify embodied processes.

Question 6

What do symbolic models of embodied cognition rely on?

Answer 6

The idea that mental representations are conceptual and that cognition and perception are separated.
Based on the computer metaphor.

Question 7

What are the two main assumptions of symbolic models?

Answer 7

The mind and the body are independent.
High-level cognition operates on abstract symbols that are linked to our perceptual experiences. Sensorimotor inputs are re-described by means of language-like symbols.

Question 8

What did Barsalou say about cognition and symbols?

Answer 8

Cognition is inherently perceptual.

Brain contains perceptual not abstract symbols.

Question 9

What do grounded cognitions reject in terms of traditional views of cognition?

Answer 9

Reject idea that knowledge is represented in terms of abstract symbols in memory.
Assume that cognition and perception are linked (e.g. power = up).

Question 10

Where do metaphors usually originate from?

Answer 10

Experiences during childhood.

Question 11

Give an example of where concepts are organised as spatial metaphors.

Answer 11

Morality = straightness.

Question 12

What is the difference between embodied and grounded cognition?

Answer 12

Embodied: focus on bodily reactions.
Grounded: acknowledges that both physical senses and internal states/simulations can be the source of abstract concepts.

Question 13

Explain the account of situated action.

Answer 13

It is the cognition evolved to support action and interaction.

Question 14

What are thoughts, feeling and behaviours grounded in?

Answer 14

Perception and bodily states.

Question 15

Give an example of a simulation mechanism.

Answer 15

Mental imagery.

Question 16

What are the 3 types of simulations?

Answer 16

Perceptual, motor and introspective experiences.

Question 17

What two factors make our cognitions become grounded in perception?

Answer 17

Repeated experiences and the metaphors associated with them.

Question 18

Explain the Mind-body link.

Answer 18

The working model of embodiment assumes a link between abstract, conceptual representations and sensorimotor representations.

Question 19

What do both Darwin and Galton define attitudes in terms of?

Answer 19

Posture.

Shows the idea of embodiment in attitude studies!

Question 20

Explain Wells & Petty’s study + results.

Answer 20

There was more favourable attitudes towards the content of a message after nodding vs shaking head.
Association between bodily posture + motor behaviours with positive and negative attitudes.

Question 21

Explain Bargh, Chen & Burrows study + results.

Answer 21

Walking speed study.
Hypothesis: Behaviour can be automatically activated by the environment.
Results: pps walked slower in the elderly priming condition. Mental representation of elderly stereotype includes sensory-motor representations (embodiment!!!).

Question 22

What was a weakness of Bargh’s study?

Answer 22

There was replication issues.

Maybe results were manipulated?

Question 23

Explain Schubert’s study + results.

Answer 23

Hypothesis: powerful = up, powerless = down.
Reaction time task.
Pps found powerful and powerless group faster when they were in their respective positions.

Question 24

Explain Pacilli’s study + results.

Answer 24

Write about 2 episodes in which you felt moral/immoral.
Select picture the you prefer the most - straight or curved.
Moral condition = preferred straight picture.

Question 25

Name some possible applications of Pacilli’s study.

Answer 25

Priming straightness?

Can straightness elicit moral behaviours?

Question 26

What has research in embodiment been mainly focusing on?

Answer 26

Descriptive level… E.g. showing that metaphors are real.

Question 27

Name some areas in which research could develop.

Answer 27

Start from behaviour and not metaphor.
Test boundary conditions + mediators.
Consider outcomes linked to actions.
Test individual differences.

Question 28

State and explain one study that showed how boundary conditions and mediators play a role in embodied cognition.

Answer 28

Rate how funny certain cartoons are. Pps either exposed to + or - emotions.
Positive emotions = funnier ratings.
Inhibiting facial muscles blocked this effect! - Mediator.

Question 29

State and explain one study which showed how individual differences play a role in embodied cognition.

Answer 29

Moral Stroop effect - personality related. Stronger association between morality + white and immorality + black in individuals that like cleaning products.

Question 30

Individual differences may play a role beyond personality. Give another example.

Answer 30

Physical abilities - e.g. health, age.