This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Caporael, L. R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Caporael, L. R. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

The Evolution of Truly Social Cognition: The Core Configurations Model

Department of Science and Technology Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

This article introduces a vocabulary suitable for evolutionary analyses in the human cognitive, social, and behavioral sciences. The vocabulary carves a middle way between advocates and critics of evolutionary perspectives by substituting the concept of repeated assembly for nature-nurture dualism. A model of core configurations-based on human morphology and ecology in human evolutionary history-is presented, and I argue that these configurations offace-to-face groups are the selective context for uniquely human mental systems. Hence, human cognition is "truly social," specialized for group living. The relevance of the core configuration model is illustrated with respect to two areas of interest to social psychologists: the self and social identity, and distributed cognition and shared reality. A final section illustrates the integrative power of the core configuration model with a brief comparison of the social and cognitive tasks faced by scientists and foragers.

Personality and Social Psychology Review, Vol. 1, No. 4, 276-298 (1997)
DOI: 10.1207/s15327957pspr0104_1


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. M. Ackerman and D. T. Kenrick Cooperative Courtship: Helping Friends Raise and Raze Relationship Barriers Pers Soc Psychol Bull, October 1, 2009; 35(10): 1285 - 1300. [Abstract] [PDF]

				H. T. Reis Reinvigorating the Concept of Situation in Social Psychology Personality and Social Psychology Review, November 1, 2008; 12(4): 311 - 329. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. L. Knowles and W. L. Gardner Benefits of Membership: The Activation and Amplification of Group Identities in Response to Social Rejection Pers Soc Psychol Bull, September 1, 2008; 34(9): 1200 - 1213. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. M. Ackerman and D. T. Kenrick The Costs of Benefits: Help-Refusals Highlight Key Trade-Offs of Social Life Personality and Social Psychology Review, May 1, 2008; 12(2): 118 - 140. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. Correll and B. Park A Model of the Ingroup as a Social Resource Personality and Social Psychology Review, November 1, 2005; 9(4): 341 - 359. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. B. Brewer Taking the Social Origins of Human Nature Seriously: Toward a More Imperialist Social Psychology Personality and Social Psychology Review, May 1, 2004; 8(2): 107 - 113. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. E. Gorman and M. M. Mehalik Turning Good into Gold: A Comparative Study of Two Environmental Invention Networks Science Technology Human Values, October 1, 2002; 27(4): 499 - 529. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. C. Bell Evolution of Parental Caregiving Personality and Social Psychology Review, August 1, 2001; 5(3): 216 - 229. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. P. Fiske Complementarity Theory: Why Human Social Capacities Evolved to Require Cultural Complements Personality and Social Psychology Review, February 1, 2000; 4(1): 76 - 94. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. Thompson and G. A. Fine Socially Shared Cognition, Affect, and Behavior: A Review and Integration Personality and Social Psychology Review, November 1, 1999; 3(4): 278 - 302. [Abstract] [PDF]