Social Cognition

Social Cognition

Human beings can learn about others by observation. Some animals and insects live in groups, such as bees, and decisions are made collectively. Learning about others and understanding social mechanisms is achieved by a process known as social cognition. Cognition is defined as the process of accumulating understanding through thought and the senses (sensation and perception). Additionally, meta-cognition refers to reflection on one’s own and others’ thought processes and mental states. Terms such as mentalizing and psychologizing may also be used. Further, mentalizing is closer in meaning to Theory of Mind (ToM), which relates to the mental schemas we hold about others’ mental states.

Further, social psychologists argue that we learn by observing others. We learn about the environment, places, objects, actions and so on. Learning by observation confers the advantage of avoiding making errors; in other words, we do learn from the mistakes of others. In addition, implicit mentalizing is common to many social animals, while explicit mentalizing remains unique to humans. Thus, explicit mentalizing is made possible by meta-cognitive processes. From cognitive psychology, we know that there are several types of intelligences, the multiple intelligences theory, and thus only humans are capable of insight and introspection, coded under the intrapersonal intelligence dimension.

Learning from the mistakes of others seems preferable to learning from one’s own mistakes. Image: Megan Jorgensen (Elena)

Evolutionary psychologists claim that social cognition, particularly the explicit mentalizing unique to humans has evolved as beneficial to survival. An alternative account of social cognition may centre on phrenological explanations. Phrenology is a highly compartmentalized view of the brain and cerebral activity and while popular in the past has been replaced by a more holistic understand of the brain. Regardless, neuroscience research uses neuroimaging studies to pinpoint the neural correlates or neuronal substrates of particular processes, such as social cognition.

Alternatively, from a social psychology perspective, social cognition has a lot of uses. For example, we may learn by trial and error, and mistakes made and corrected to socialize in a socially competent way. Thus, social psychologists define social competence as the ability to get what one wants from relationships, while still maintaining positive connections to others. Along these lines, a socially competent individual may get desired results from one’s social circle, without engaging in verbal fighting or other hostilities. Dating strategies also rely on social cognition, and likewise, cognitive flexibility in relation to different people.