Durkheim Experience loss of cognitive classification
Abstract:
Durkheim hypothesis that the basic cognitive types of human beings are socially based, and these psychological representations are caused by social facts and totems. This claim has been reassessed in recent studies on the cognitive structure of neonates. The latest research on cognitive patterns in newborns shows that the formation of cognitive patterns in newborns is not only affected by the physical world, but also by the thinking and even collective consciousness of others. This article finally concluded that Durkheim's theory of cognitive patterns has little support from empirical research, and we need to re-theorize this field.
Author profile:
Albert J. Bergesen Department of Sociology, University of Arizona
Compilation source:
Albert J. Bergesen. (2004).Durkheim's Theory of Mental Categories: A Review of the Evidence.Annual review of Sociology,395-408
Author of this article: Albert J. Bergesen
Main views of this article
The author first reviewed Durkheim's cognitive theory, who believed that individual cognition came from the influence of prior social facts. Durkheim believes that we are instilled in religious rituals and totem worship, which is instilled from the outside to the inside and is recognized from the heart of the individual. Durkheim's theory was widely recognized in the sociological community and was continued to be developed and improved by later scholars. But the author believes that this theory lacks empirical evidence.
authors sorted out research content on various aspects of neonatal cognition, including six aspects: space, quantity, reason, cognitive content, category, and duality of individuals and groups. According to this, Durkheim's doctrine is almost inconsistent with existing empirical research. Infants have already had a certain cognitive foundation and collective consciousness during the period when they did not participate in serious social and religious activities.
According to this, the author believes that infants do not participate in social interactions as a completely blank identity, and Durkheim's theory is not supported by experience. The author suggests that the academic community re-theorizes socialization-related knowledge.
Reprint time: October 19, 2022
Editor in charge: Zhao Yiran
Chief editor: Elysium
Final editor: Li Zhixian
© Zhengzhi Academic Express
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