Assessing the causal structure of function

Chaigneau, S. E., Barsalou, L. W. and Sloman, S. A. (2004) Assessing the causal structure of function. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 133(4), pp. 601-625. (doi: 10.1037/0096-3445.133.4.601) (PMID:15584809)

Full text not currently available from Enlighten.

Abstract

Theories typically emphasize affordances or intentions as the primary determinant of an object's perceived function. The HIPE theory assumes that people integrate both into causal models that produce functional attributions. In these models, an object's physical structure and an agent's action specify an affordance jointly, constituting the immediate causes of a perceived function. The object's design history and an agent's goal in using it constitute distant causes. When specified fully, the immediate causes are sufficient for determining the perceived function--distant causes have no effect (the causal proximity principle). When the immediate causes are ambiguous or unknown, distant causes produce inferences about the immediate causes, thereby affecting functional attributions indirectly (the causal updating principle). Seven experiments supported HIPE's predictions.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Barsalou, Professor Lawrence
Authors: Chaigneau, S. E., Barsalou, L. W., and Sloman, S. A.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Psychology
Journal Name:Journal of Experimental Psychology: General
Publisher:American Psychological Association
ISSN:0096-3445
ISSN (Online):1939-2222

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record