The Reciprocal Dynamics of Individual and Collective Cognition Sessions
The Reciprocal Dynamics of Individual and Collective Cognition Symposia Session
Is cognition a purely individual process? This symposium examines cognition as a dynamic system that bridges individuals and groups. Experts from psychology and neuroscience will explore how shared experiences influence individual memory, decision-making, and belief formation. Furthermore, we will highlight cognitive phenomena that emerge exclusively within group contexts, such as the wisdom of crowds and social learning processes, and examine how these processes unfold in online ecosystems. The aim is to advance a more integrated model of cognition that moves beyond simplistic models of social influence.
Speakers:
- Suparna Rajaram, Stony Brook University, USA
- Karl Szpunar, Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada
- Carolyn Parkinson, University of California Los Angeles, USA
- Björn Lindström, Karolinska Institute, Sweden
ISS Linked Flash Talk Session
16:15 – 17:15 (4:15 PM – 5:15 PM)
Deciding to Rule-Break In the Presence of Uncertainty and Relative Desperation – An Agent-Based Modeling Approach
Presenting Author: Brendan Lam, Yale University, USA
Abstract: We developed a model that simulates non-violent crime (e.g., property theft) by combining economic theories of decision-making under uncertainty with theories of relative deprivation and ecological theories of desperation thresholds. We find that the interaction of blunted uncertainty aversion and higher relative desperation contributes the most to the crime rate.
Perceived Diffusion of Attention: More Authentic Emotional Expression In a Group
Presenting Author: Sherry Rui Xiong, New York University, USA
Abstract: We examine when individuals engage in surface acting—masking or faking emotions. In a mixed-design experiment (N=491), participants imagined interacting with someone they disliked. They reported feeling less attention and engaging in less surface acting in group versus one-on-one settings. Findings highlight a novel authenticity–impression management framework for regulated emotional expression.
The Social Transmission of Optimism
Presenting Author: Anton Bel-Álvarez, University of Barcelona, Spain
Abstract: We examined the influence of collaborative imagination on individual optimism for the future in 179 participants (127 female, Mage = 22.6). We found that optimism increases via a social prediction error mechanism, where individuals update beliefs based on peer discrepancies. Findings suggest optimism is transmissible and malleable through social interaction.
Perceived vs. Lived History In Times of Crisis: Divergences Between Public Beliefs and Societal Trends during COVID-19
Presenting Author: Peter Diep, University of Waterloo, Canada
Abstract: To examine perception-reality gaps between public perceptions of societal change under high heightened uncertainty (i.e. COVID-19), we asked 644 Americans to estimate change across thirteen domains. We found that in only five domains did participants correctly estimate direction, and that accuracy was associated with task deliberation, metacognitive engagement, and confidence.
Communication In Pairs: Does a High-Level Construal Foster Shared-Reality Creation?
Presenting Author: Sophie Katharina Doege, University of Salzburg, Austria
Abstract: In a high-powered and preregistered laboratory experiment using free-flowing conversations between participants about ambiguous pictures to assess shared reality, no evidence for the influence of construal level on shared reality was found. Potential reasons for this finding, e.g., the relevance of motivational variables such as belonging needs, will be discussed.
ISS Linked Workshop: Agent-Based Simulations
17:30 – 19:00 (5:30 PM – 7:00 PM)
Presenter: Alexandre Bluet, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
Abstract: Is cognition a purely individual process? This symposium examines cognition as a dynamic system that bridges individuals and groups. Experts from psychology and neuroscience will explore how shared experiences influence individual memory, decision-making, and belief formation. Furthermore, we will highlight cognitive phenomena that emerge exclusively within group contexts, such as the wisdom of crowds and social learning processes, and examine how these processes unfold in online ecosystems. The aim is to advance a more integrated model of cognition that moves beyond simplistic models of social influence.
Prerequisites: R studio installed and basic programming skills
