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Similarities and differences in concepts of mental life among adults and children in five cultures

Author

Listed:
  • Kara Weisman

    (Stanford University
    Stanford University)

  • Cristine H. Legare

    (The University of Texas at Austin)

  • Rachel E. Smith

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Vivian A. Dzokoto

    (Virginia Commonwealth University)

  • Felicity Aulino

    (University of Massachusetts Amherst)

  • Emily Ng

    (University of Amsterdam)

  • John C. Dulin

    (Utah Valley University)

  • Nicole Ross-Zehnder

    (Stanford University)

  • Joshua D. Brahinsky

    (Stanford University)

  • Tanya Marie Luhrmann

    (Stanford University)

Abstract

How do concepts of mental life vary across cultures? By asking simple questions about humans, animals and other entities – for example, ‘Do beetles get hungry? Remember things? Feel love?’ – we reconstructed concepts of mental life from the bottom up among adults (N = 711) and children (ages 6–12 years, N = 693) in the USA, Ghana, Thailand, China and Vanuatu. This revealed a cross-cultural and developmental continuity: in all sites, among both adults and children, cognitive abilities travelled separately from bodily sensations, suggesting that a mind–body distinction is common across diverse cultures and present by middle childhood. Yet there were substantial cultural and developmental differences in the status of social–emotional abilities – as part of the body, part of the mind or a third category unto themselves. Such differences may have far-reaching social consequences, whereas the similarities identify aspects of human understanding that may be universal.

Suggested Citation

  • Kara Weisman & Cristine H. Legare & Rachel E. Smith & Vivian A. Dzokoto & Felicity Aulino & Emily Ng & John C. Dulin & Nicole Ross-Zehnder & Joshua D. Brahinsky & Tanya Marie Luhrmann, 2021. "Similarities and differences in concepts of mental life among adults and children in five cultures," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 5(10), pages 1358-1368, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:5:y:2021:i:10:d:10.1038_s41562-021-01184-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-021-01184-8
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    Cited by:

    1. Summerville, Karoline M. & Chen, Victor Zitian & Shoham, Amir & Taras, Vasyl, 2024. "Speaking of diversity: Can linguistic structural differences explain cultural values toward equity, diversity, and inclusion across the globe?," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 59(1).

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