Conceptual centrality and property induction

This thesis examines property generalization among concepts. Its primary objective is to investigate the hypothesis that the more central a feature for a concept, the higher its generalizability to other concepts that share a similar structure (features and dependencies). Its secondary objectives are to examine the relative contributions of feature centrality and feature variability in property induction, whether centrality offers a domain-general or a domain-specific constraint, and whether centrality can operate under conditions of vagueness. Experiments 1 and 2 addressed the centrality hypothesis with centrality measured, whereas Experiments 3 to 14 and 17 with centrality manipulated. Relative feature centrality was manipulated as follows: from a single-dependency chain (Experiments 3 to 7), from the number of properties that depended upon a feature (Experiments 8 to 11 and 17), and from the centrality of the properties that depended upon the critical features (Experiments 12 to 14). The results support the centrality hypothesis. Experiments 12 to 16 addressed the relative contributions of centrality and variability in property induction. Experiments 12 to 14 pitted a central and variable property against a less central and less variable property in judgments of frequency and inductive strength. The results suggest that property induction depends on centrality rather than frequency information, and that centrality can bias the perception of frequency (although the latter results were not clear-cut). Experiments 15 and 16 pitted centrality against variability in information seeking. The results show that centrality information is sought more often than variability information to make an inference, especially amongst dissimilar concepts. Experiments 1 to 16 used animal categories. Experiment 17 examined the centrality hypothesis with artifact categories. The results show centrality effects. Taken together, the Experiments suggest that centrality offers a domain-general constraint. Experiments 5, 8 to 11, and 17 left the properties that depended upon a candidate feature unspecified. A centrality effect was still obtained. The results suggest that centrality can operate under conditions of vagueness. The results are discussed in terms of theories of conceptual structure and models of category-based inference. A model to capture the present findings is also sketched

Unpacking estimates of task duration: The role of typicality and temporality

Research in task duration judgment has shown that unpacking a multifaceted task into components prior to estimating its duration increases estimates. In three studies, we find that unpacking a complex task can increase, decrease, or leave unaffected task duration estimates depending on the typicality of the unpacked components and their temporal position in the task sequence. Unpacking atypical long components increases task duration estimates, while unpacking atypical short components decreases estimates (Study 1). Unpacking atypical early components increases task duration estimates, while unpacking atypical late components decreases estimates (Study 2). Unpacking typical early or late components leaves estimates unaffected (Study 3). We explain these results based on the idea that task duration estimation involves a mental simulation process, and by drawing on theories of unpacking in probability judgment that emphasize the role of the typicality of the unpacked components. These findings hint at a deep conceptual link between probability judgment and task duration estimation but also show differences, such as the influence that temporality exerts on estimated duration. © 2013 Elsevier Inc

Many moral buttons or just one? Evidence from emotional facial expressions

We investigated whether moral violations involving harm selectively elicit anger, whereas purity violations selectively elicit disgust, as predicted by the Moral Foundations Theory (MFT). We analysed participants’ spontaneous facial expressions as they listened to scenarios depicting moral violations of harm and purity. As predicted by MFT, anger reactions were elicited more frequently by harmful than by impure actions. However, violations of purity elicited more smiling reactions and expressions of anger than of disgust. This effect was found both in a classic set of scenarios and in a new set in which the different kinds of violations were matched on weirdness. Overall, these findings are at odds with predictions derived from MFT and provide support for “monist” accounts that posit harm at the basis of all moral violations. However, we found that smiles were differentially linked to purity violations, which leaves open the possibility of distinct moral modules

How foreign language affects decisions: Rethinking the brain-drain model

Volk, Köhler, & Pudelko (JIBS 45:862-885, 2014) propose that foreign language use depletes cognitive resources, thus hindering individual decision making and self-regulation. The present commentary highlights studies showing that foreign language use can also improve decision making and self-regulation. We propose that these benefits derive from two psychological factors. The first concerns the timing of cognitive depletion. Foreign language use involves an increase of memory load in the early phases of information processing, which has been shown to reduce the capture of attention by tempting stimuli. The second factor concerns the nature of human memory. Experiences and their associated emotions are coded in the language in which they occur, and thus are more accessible when the same language is used at retrieval. Therefore certain mental constructs, such as stereotypes, which have been shaped by years of cultural learning in a native language context, may exert less influence when processing a foreign language. The present treatment indicates value in extending Volk et al.'s conceptual model, and can help develop language strategies that may ultimately improve organizational decision making

Judging the Probability of Representative and Unrepresentative Unpackings

The hypothesis that category descriptions are interpreted narrowly, in terms of representative instances, is examined by comparing probability judgments for packed descriptions of events to judgments for coextensional unpacked descriptions. The representativeness of the unpacked instance was varied along with the type of unpacking (direct vs. priming). In contrast to the prediction of Support Theory (Tversky & Koehler, 1994), we found no evidence that unpacking has a nonnegative effect on probability judgments (subadditivity). Instead, we found a negative effect with low representative direct unpackings (superadditivity). Our data suggest that probability judgments are proportional to the typicality of instances in the description

Percentage of consequentialist choices in Study 1.

<p>Percentage of participants who endorsed the consequentialist action, by dilemma type and language condition. The native language was Italian. The foreign language was either German (a) or English (b). *<i>p</i> < .05, **<i>p</i> < .01.</p