Spontaneous Anthropocentric Language Use in University Students’ Explanations of Biological Concepts Varies by Topic and Predicts Misconception Agreement

CBE—Life Sciences Education, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 24(1)

Published: Jan. 14, 2025

Previous research has shown that students employ intuitive thinking when understanding scientific concepts. Three types of thinking-essentialist, teleological, and anthropic thinking-are used in biology learning can lead to misconceptions. However, it is unknown how commonly these thinking, or cognitive construals, are spontaneously students' explanations across biological concepts whether this usage related endorsement construal-consistent In study, we examined frequently undergraduate two U.S. universities (N = 807) language (CCL) explain response open-ended questions five core (e.g., evolution), CCL use differed by concept, was misconceptions agreement. We found the majority some kind responses varied target concept. also who their agreed more strongly with misconception statements, a relationship driven anthropocentric use, focused on humans. These findings suggest American university reasoning about implications for understanding.

Language: Английский

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One Health Education Nexus: enhancing synergy among science-, school-, and teacher education beyond academic silos

Frontiers in Public Health, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11

Published: March 22, 2024

The fact that the daily lives of billions people were affected by medical, social, and political aspects SARS-CoV-2 pandemic shows need to anchor understanding One Health in society. Hence, promoting awareness deepening interrelation between human health, animal ecosystems must be accomplished through quality education, as advocated UN Sustainable Development Goal 4. often-questioned discussed measures taken governments control global 2020 2023 can seen an opportunity meet educational needs civil society solutions multi-stakeholder settings public, universities, schools.

Language: Английский

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Representing the World in Language and Thought

Topics in Cognitive Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 16(1), P. 6 - 24

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Abstract Internal representations guide our navigation of the world, while language allows us to share some what is encoded internally with others. I have been interested in content thought, nature word meanings and they reveal about how thoughts are expressed words. My work has combined evidence from laboratory experimentation observation use natural settings, including people who speak different languages. Some ideas guiding these: understanding entities world non‐linguistically engages processes than talking them; patterns a reflect cultural linguistic history, not only conceptual current speakers; non‐linguistic knowledge therefore at least partially independent, so thought will always closely parallel one another; beliefs express their concepts may accurately implicit draw on interacting world; by carefully observing actual can we understand come used select words for communication.

Language: Английский

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Are Humans Part of the Natural World? U.S. Children's and Adults’ Concept of Nature and its Relationship to Environmental Concern

Topics in Cognitive Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 15(3), P. 452 - 479

Published: June 23, 2023

Abstract Understanding factors that promote conservation attitudes is essential given ongoing environmental crises and the need for sustainability. Our research adopted various close‐ open‐ended tasks to explore: extent which U.S. urban adults (Study 1) children 2) have a basic conception of humans as part nature, cognitive predict more human‐inclusive concepts and, finally, relationship their nature other individual differences moral concern biocentric reasoning. General reasoning were focus because both variables previously been linked sustainable attitudes. Across studies, did not tend categorize except when induced or disposed attribute mind life nature. Among adults, concept biocentrism. However, degree exposure was positively predictive while cluster beliefs about intrinsically unique, superior, influential (human exceptionalism) negatively predictive. children, related but only among who also tended reason in ecological terms. These findings important implications sustainability efforts: They suggest may be enhanced over‐development by interventions enduringly ecological‐systems understanding. Such intervention effects might achieved selectively inducing individuals non‐human natural phenomena scaffolding accurate mechanistic understanding evolution common ancestry, help inhibit development deleterious human exceptionalism.

Language: Английский

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Conceptual Foundations of Sustainability

Topics in Cognitive Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 15(3), P. 334 - 356

Published: June 29, 2023

Threats to the health of our environment are numerous. Much research in science and engineering is devoted documenting, understanding, attempting mitigate harm itself. The root challenge for sustainability, however, human behavior. As such, changes behaviors internal processes that drive them also essential. Critical understanding sustainability-related individual's conceptualization natural world its components processes. papers this topiCS issue address these conceptualizations by drawing from anthropological, linguistic, educational, philosophical, social cognitive perspectives as well traditional psychological approaches study concepts their development children. They engage with many domains bearing on environmental sustainability including climate change, biodiversity, land water conservation, resource use, design built environment. coalesce around four broad themes: (a) What people know (or believe) about nature broadly specific aspects nature, how they acquire use knowledge; (b) knowledge expressed shared via language; (c) beliefs interact affective, social, motivational influences yield attitudes behaviors; (d) members different cultures speakers languages differ ways. point lessons advancing public policy messaging, education, conservation management,

Language: Английский

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Biocultural evolution, narratives, and emerging cultures of sustainability

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 30(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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The Beneficial Interaction Between Human Well-Being and Natural Healthy Ecosystems: An Integrative Narrative Approach

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 22(3), P. 427 - 427

Published: March 14, 2025

This study highlights the lack of research on relationship between ecosystem services, climate change, and human well-being. The experiences with COVID-19 pandemic show value natural environment for people's We propose a framework that fosters an integrative approach to enhance our connection nature, which is vital tackling current environmental challenges. reviewed over 70 articles 160 references from databases such as Elsevier, ScienceDirect, Dialnet, MDPI, Taylor & Francis, focusing correlation pro-environmental behavior emotional bonds nature. Increasing awareness nature crucial fostering sustainable ecosystems. To deepen understanding how this influences well-being health, we advocate application specific neuroscience artificial intelligence techniques. presents compendium prospective topics future investigation analysis. In particular, it underscores significance development effective policy practical applications in realm conservation efforts.

Language: Английский

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“The Earth is Alive”: Attributing Agency to the Earth Causes Moral Concern for the Environment and Biocentric Attitudes

Cognitive Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 49(3)

Published: March 1, 2025

Abstract Do people need to attribute agency nature morally care for it? The answer this question has significant implications our understanding of social cognitive effects on moral judgment. Despite its relevance during an environmental crisis, surprisingly little is known about the answer. Across two studies, we explored whether attributing nonhuman natural entities like Earth a causal influence concern and intrinsic valuing (biocentrism). In Study 1, used experimental design, assigning U.S. urban adults one three videos history Earth's ecosystems. Two them described as agent: either thoughtful person (psychological) or living animal (vitalist). third nonagentic object (control). Participants in agentic condition showed greater biocentrism than participants condition. 2, examined whether—absent any cues—a scientifically informative video would prompt have effect watching awe‐inspiring depictions learning irrelevant information control No differences were found. However, patterning with individuals’ tendencies mind predicted reasoning. Carefully invoked, vitalist attributions—which deviate less from scientific understandings psychological ones—can mobilize conservationist attitudes among adults. Overall, results suggest that attributions life are required engage concern.

Language: Английский

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Nature-Based and Geo-Engineering Climate Mitigation Technologies: Public Acceptance and Security Prospects

iScience, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 28(5), P. 112303 - 112303

Published: March 28, 2025

Language: Английский

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Rethinking knowledge systems in psychology: addressing epistemic hegemony and systemic obstacles in climate change studies

Frontiers in Psychology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16

Published: April 2, 2025

Climate psychology has emerged as a critical field examining how individuals and societies perceive, respond to, engage with the climate crisis. However, discipline remains deeply influenced by Western epistemologies, which privilege individualistic, anthropocentric, positivist approaches to knowledge production. This perspective paper critically examines bias shapes theoretical frameworks, methodological approaches, policy implications within psychology, often exclusion of non-Western particularly those from Indigenous Global South communities. We argue that dominant paradigms, rooted in individualism, cognitive-behavioral models, human-exceptionalist perspectives, constrain field's ability fully capture complex, relational, context-specific ways diverse populations change. Moreover, overreliance on quantitative experimental methodologies systematically marginalizes methodologies, such storytelling, relational worldviews, participatory research thereby limiting inclusivity ecological validity research. To address these limitations, we propose decolonial approach advocating for integration pluralistic equitable collaborations. By diversifying epistemic foundations tools, can move beyond its biases, leading more culturally responsive effective just interventions. calls fundamental reorientation one values diversity essential addressing multifaceted human dimensions

Language: Английский

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