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Core knowledge shapes what actions are considered and how others will perceive them

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2026

Ashley J. Thomas Open the ORCID record for Ashley J. Thomas [Opens in a new window]  and
Hossein Samani
Ashley J. Thomas*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, USA athomas@g.harvard.edu
Hossein Samani
Affiliation:
ENS-PSL, EHESS, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France hosseinsamanipsy@gmail.com
*
*Corresponding author.
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Abstract

We propose an extension in which core knowledge – innate, skeletal, and abstract cognitive representations – shape “super attractors.” They shape our cognition and our communication with others. People choose actions based not only on what they feel is right but also on whether they think others will agree. We propose that universal priors shape the space of shared intuitions.

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Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 49 , 2026 , e309
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press

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