Situated conceptualization

Barsalou, L. W. (2005) Situated conceptualization. In: Cohen, H. and Lefebvre, C. (eds.) Handbook of Categorization in Cognitive Science. Elsevier Ltd., pp. 619-650. ISBN 9780080446127 (doi: 10.1016/B978-008044612-7/50083-4)

Abstract

This chapter develops two themes about the conceptual system: modal simulations underlie conceptual processing, and conceptual representations are situated. The construct of situated conceptualization—a multimodal simulation that supports one specific course of situated action with a particular category instance—integrates these themes. A given concept produces many different situated conceptualizations, each tailored to different instances in different settings. A situated conceptualization creates the experience of "being there" with a category instance in a setting via integrated simulations of objects, settings, actions, and introspections. On recognizing a familiar type of instance, an entrenched situated conceptualization associated with it becomes active, which provides relevant inferences via pattern completion. The chapter reviews supporting empirical evidence from cognitive psychology, social psychology, and cognitive neuroscience.

• Item Type: Book Sections
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Barsalou, Professor Lawrence
• Authors: Barsalou, L. W.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Psychology
• Publisher: Elsevier Ltd.
• ISBN: 9780080446127