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Neural reuse leads to associative connections between concrete (physical) and abstract (social) concepts and motives

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 June 2016

Yimeng Wang  and
John A. Bargh
Yimeng Wang
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511. yimeng.wang@yale.edu john.bargh@yale.edu http://www.yale.edu/acmelab/index.html
John A. Bargh
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511. yimeng.wang@yale.edu john.bargh@yale.edu http://www.yale.edu/acmelab/index.html
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Abstract

Consistent with neural reuse theory, empirical tests of the related “scaffolding” principle of abstract concept development show that higher-level concepts “reuse” and are built upon fundamental motives such as survival, safety, and consumption. This produces mutual influence between the two levels, with far-ranging impacts from consumer behavior to political attitudes.

Information

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 39 , 2016 , e134
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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