scholarly journals Integrating social and cognitive aspects of belief dynamics: towards a unifying framework

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (176) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirta Galesic ◽  
Henrik Olsson ◽  
Jonas Dalege ◽  
Tamara van der Does ◽  
Daniel L. Stein
Keyword(s):  
Computer Science ◽  
Social Theory ◽  
Statistical Physics ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Dynamic Models ◽  
Belief Change ◽  
Cognitive System ◽  
Structural Components ◽  
Comprehensive Understanding ◽  
Belief Dynamics

Belief change and spread have been studied in many disciplines—from psychology, sociology, economics and philosophy, to biology, computer science and statistical physics—but we still do not have a firm grasp on why some beliefs change more easily and spread faster than others. To fully capture the complex social-cognitive system that gives rise to belief dynamics, we first review insights about structural components and processes of belief dynamics studied within different disciplines. We then outline a unifying quantitative framework that enables theoretical and empirical comparisons of different belief dynamic models. This framework uses a statistical physics formalism, grounded in cognitive and social theory, as well as empirical observations. We show how this framework can be used to integrate extant knowledge and develop a more comprehensive understanding of belief dynamics.

scholarly journals Integrating social and cognitive aspects of belief dynamics: Towards a unifying framework

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirta Galesic ◽  
Henrik Olsson ◽  
Jonas Dalege ◽  
Tamara van der Does ◽  
Daniel L. Stein
Keyword(s):  
Social Theory ◽  
Statistical Physics ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Dynamic Models ◽  
Belief Change ◽  
Structural Components ◽  
Cognitive Representations ◽  
Empirical Tests ◽  
Belief Dynamics ◽  
The Many

Belief change and spread have been studied in many disciplines-- from psychology, sociology, economics and philosophy, to computer science and statistical physics-- but we still do not have a firm grasp on why some beliefs change and spread easier than others. To fully capture the complex social-cognitive system that give rise to belief dynamics, we need to integrate the findings of these disciplines into a single framework. Communication between disciplines is limited, and there is a lack of theoretical comparisons and empirical tests of the many different models of belief dynamics. Here we first review insights about structural components and processes of belief dynamics studied in different disciplines, focusing particularly on previously neglected but important areas such as cognitive representations and strategies used to integrate information. We then outline a unifying framework that enables theoretical and empirical comparisons of different belief dynamic models. The framework is quantified using a statistical physics formalism, grounded in cognitive and social theory as well as empirical observations. We show how the framework can be used to integrate numerous previous models and develop a more comprehensive science of belief dynamics.

Chapter 22. Connections to Statistical Physics

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabrizio Altarelli ◽  
Rémi Monasson ◽  
Guilhem Semerjian ◽  
Francesco Zamponi
Keyword(s):  
Phase Transitions ◽  
Low Temperature ◽  
Statistical Mechanics ◽  
Cost Function ◽  
Computer Science ◽  
Statistical Physics ◽  
Energy Landscape ◽  
Research Activity ◽  
Detailed Picture ◽  
Intense Research

This chapter surveys a part of the intense research activity that has been devoted by theoretical physicists to the study of randomly generated k-SAT instances. It can be at first sight surprising that there is a connection between physics and computer science. However low-temperature statistical mechanics concerns precisely the behaviour of the low-lying configurations of an energy landscape, in other words the optimization of a cost function. Moreover the ensemble of random k-SAT instances exhibit phase transitions, a phenomenon mostly studied in physics (think for instance at the transition between liquid and gaseous water). Besides the introduction of general concepts of statistical mechanics and their translations in computer science language, the chapter presents results on the location of the satisfiability transition, the detailed picture of the satisfiable regime and the various phase transitions it undergoes, and algorithmic issues for random k-SAT instances.

From individual cognition to populational culture

2012 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 245-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krist Vaesen
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Population Dynamic ◽  
Cultural Evolution ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Dynamic Models ◽  
Cumulative Culture ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Full Explanation ◽  
Individual Cognition ◽  
Future Work

AbstractIn my response to the commentaries from a collection of esteemed researchers, I reassess and eventually find largely intact my claim that human tool use evidences higher social and non-social cognitive ability. Nonetheless, I concede that my examination of individual-level cognitive traits does not offer a full explanation of cumulative culture yet. For that, one needs to incorporate them into population-dynamic models of cultural evolution. I briefly describe my current and future work on this.

Redundant Leading and following Zeros in Comparative Numerical Judgment

1995 ◽  
Vol 80 (3) ◽  
pp. 819-829 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumiko Takayanagi ◽  
Norman Cliff ◽  
Penny L. Fidler
Keyword(s):  
Computer Science ◽  
Task Performance ◽  
Stimulus Type ◽  
Processing Time ◽  
Comprehensive Understanding ◽  
Feature Identification ◽  
Computer Screen ◽  
Numerical Judgment ◽  
Type 3

The objective was to provide a more comprehensive understanding of how people make numerical comparative judgments when digits are contained in numbers with redundant leading or following zeros, e.g., 00080 and 800.000. These sequences of numbers often appear on computer display terminals (VDT) as line numbers, but surprisingly little research has been done on this. The experiment manipulated three aspects of numerical stimuli: (1) redundant leading zeros, (2) redundant following zeros, and (3) length of string of digits. The subjects were to push one of the two button-switches to respond whether two stimulus numbers shown on the computer screen were equal or unequal. The target stimuli contained several forms of redundant zeros, and each performance was assessed by response RT of the subjects. Analysis indicated five significant findings: (1) Redundant leading zeros hindered performance, (2) The effect of redundant following zeros depended on the stimulus type, (3) Over-all, longer digits took more processing time, (4) The RTs for the second-block trials were significantly faster than the first, and (5) Task performance was facilitated when the redundant zero representations were identical in both stimuli of a pair. Nonlexicographic processing seems to occur when feature identification can be used for numerical identification, that is, when the format is consistent. The research has implications for those in computer science to provide numerical formats which make comparative judgments as easy as possible.

Action Identification May Explain Why the Doing of Activities in Occupational Therapy Effects Positive Changes in Clients

1995 ◽  
Vol 58 (11) ◽  
pp. 461-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne E Dickerson
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Therapy ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Cognitive Theory ◽  
Behavioural Change ◽  
Action Identification ◽  
Comprehensive Understanding ◽  
Theory Application ◽  
Psychology Theory ◽  
Identification Theory ◽  
High Level

This article discusses a social cognitive theory called action identification which suggests that the manner in which an action is identified can facilitate behavioural change. Although an action can be identified in many ways, this psychology theory delineates that actions that specify how the action is done are considered a low level identity while actions that signify why the action is performed are at a high level of identity. The level of identification taken by an individual reflects a trade-off between concerns for a comprehensive understanding of the action and how to maintain effective action. Individuals can move between these levels and, in doing so, can change the way in which they view themselves and their world. After a description of the theory and the presentation of two examples of research that document the utility of the theory, application to occupational therapy is suggested. Specifically, action identification theory may explain how the doing in therapy benefits patients more than only verbalisation.

scholarly journals Markov versus quantum dynamic models of belief change during evidence monitoring

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerome R. Busemeyer ◽  
Peter D. Kvam ◽  
Timothy J. Pleskac
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Models ◽  
Belief Change ◽  
Initial Period ◽  
Quantum Dynamic ◽  
Quantitative Comparison ◽  
Quantum Model ◽  
Interference Effects ◽  
Time Intervals ◽  
Probability Rating ◽  
Criterion Method

AbstractTwo different dynamic models for belief change during evidence monitoring were evaluated: Markov and quantum. They were empirically tested with an experiment in which participants monitored evidence for an initial period of time, made a probability rating, then monitored more evidence, before making a second rating. The models were qualitatively tested by manipulating the time intervals in a manner that provided a test for interference effects of the first rating on the second. The Markov model predicted no interference, whereas the quantum model predicted interference. More importantly, a quantitative comparison of the two models was also carried out using a generalization criterion method: the parameters were fit to data from one set of time intervals, and then these same parameters were used to predict data from another set of time intervals. The results indicated that some features of both Markov and quantum models are needed to accurately account for the results.

Difficult Points of Chess Metaphor in the Theoretical Questions of Language and Mind

2021 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-112
Author(s):  
Pavel N. Baryshnikov ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Computer Science ◽  
Intentional Content ◽  
Structural Components ◽  
Rule Following ◽  
Conceptual Content ◽  
Important Place ◽  
Computer Chess ◽  
Chess Game ◽  
Speech Structures ◽  
Strict Rule

This review article reveals the structural components of the chess metaphor, which represent in an unusual perspective the properties of a linguistic sign and its connection with mental processes. Strict rule-following and the conventionality of the material plane of expression turn chess into a convenient illustration of a universal linguistic structure. Particular attention is paid to the computer profile of the chess metaphor, since it reflects a whole complex of philosophical problems of computer science about mind, thinking and intelligence. In the proposed paper, the presentation of most of the material is based on the works of F. de Saussure, L. Hjelmslev, L. Wittgenstein and their interpreters, in whose texts an obvious important place is occupied by chess analogies and theoretical conclusions initiated by them. First we investigate chess metaphor in the context of language and speech structures. Next, we analyze the "chess track" in the problem of individual language and the rule-following problem. The final part is devoted to the technical elements of computer chess and the influence of this area of computer science on some of the points of cognitive theories of language and mind. The author of the article emphasizes a nontrivial transformation of the conceptual content of the chess metaphor, which indicates the evolution of computational tendencies in modern theories about language and mind. The article substantiates the thesis that the traditional chess metaphor used in the XX century in the philosophical investigation of language and mind, today it takes on a realization in the framework of computer models of the chess game. Machine deep learning can significantly expand the horizon of computability. Game interaction makes it possible to ascribe the elements of intentional content to machine functions. Nevertheless, all the argumentation in the work is aimed at proving that the rules governing language and mind are rules different from the rules of computer intelligence.

scholarly journals A Semantics for Hyperintensional Belief Revision Based on Information Bases

Studia Logica ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sena Bozdag
Keyword(s):  
Belief Revision ◽  
Epistemic Logic ◽  
Belief Change ◽  
Dynamic Epistemic Logic ◽  
Doxastic Logic ◽  
Dynamic Operation ◽  
Belief Dynamics ◽  
Dynamic Doxastic Logic ◽  
New Framework

AbstractI propose a novel hyperintensional semantics for belief revision and a corresponding system of dynamic doxastic logic. The main goal of the framework is to reduce some of the idealisations that are common in the belief revision literature and in dynamic epistemic logic. The models of the new framework are primarily based on potentially incomplete or inconsistent collections of information, represented by situations in a situation space. I propose that by shifting the representational focus of doxastic models from belief sets to collections of information, and by defining changes of beliefs as artifacts of changes of information, we can achieve a more realistic account of belief representation and belief change. The proposed dynamic operation suggests a non-classical way of changing beliefs: belief revision occurs in non-explosive environments which allow for a non-monotonic and hyperintensional belief dynamics. A logic that is sound with respect to the semantics is also provided.

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