Symbolic Thought Research Articles

Artifactual Symbols: The Catalytic Role of Material Culture in the Emergence of Symbolic Thought

The emergence of symbolic representation during human evolution is a central topic for evolutionary cognitive archaeology. Symbols appear to be intimately related to the behavioral modernity that emerges in human groups after c.500,000 years ago. Archaeologists have traditionally applied theoretical conceptualizations of symbolic representation borrowed from semiotics or cognitive science. I argue that these concepts are not applicable in Pleistocene archaeology. In fact, they also neglect the essential characteristic of symbols: tangibility or potential tangibility. Symbols are artifacts. I propose an artifactual symbol concept. A focus on tangibility provides insight into how symbols scaffolded an enhancement of analytical thinking that ultimately supported the traits associated with behavioral modernity.

Barnard, Alan: Genesis of Symbolic Thought

Barnard, Alan: Genesis of Symbolic Thought

Red, White, and Black in Symbolic Thought: The Tricolour Folk Motif, Colour Naming, and Trichromatic Vision

The colours red, white, and black occur together in folktales, ritual contexts, and traditional art forms around the world. This article draws together research from folklore, linguistics, art history, vision science, perceptual philosophy, and primate biology to propose an evolutionary source underlying the symbolic resonance of these colours.

Film Genre and the Power of Symbolic Thought: The Challenge to the National History Paradigm in John Sayles’ Lone Star 1

The official history of the United States is both the result and the evidence of a battle over representation in response to specific contemporary social predicaments over the genuine national char...

Learning & Development: Symbolic Thought - See the signs

Nursery WorldVol. 2011, No. 1 FeatureLearning & Development: Symbolic Thought - See the signsPamela MayPamela MaySearch for more papers by this authorPamela MayPublished Online:4 Mar 2014https://doi.org/10.12968/nuwa.2011.18.1.1095693AboutSectionsView articleView Full TextView EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail View articleAbstractObserve the great leap in development when young children learn how to use one thing to represent another, with a demonstration of symbolic thought from Pamela May. FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails 1 January 2011Volume 2011Issue 1ISSN (print): 0029-6422ISSN (online): 2059-9358 Metrics History Published online 4 March 2014 Published in print 1 January 2011 Information© MA Education Ltd

Aphasia in an artist: A disorder of symbolic processing

Abstract This paper presents a study of a prominent Polish painter who suffered from a left brain stroke resulting in hemiparesis and aphasia. His drawing abilities were preserved on the performance level but he was not able to create the highly symbolic pictures he used to paint before the stroke. A neuropsychological examination, using Luria's approach, revealed a kinetic aphasia with some features of the frontal syndrome. The patient exhibited difficulties with reproducing and developing narratives, with understanding a moral of the story as well as with connecting components of a picture into a sensible whole. He was also unable to produce new associations of a word giving a series of its derivations instead. The patient was given appropriate treatment. Samples of pictures produced before and during the illness as well as after ‘Symbolic Thought Therapy’ reflect changes occuring in his cognitive abilities. The patient's problems are discussed against a background of differences in the mode of information processing by the left and right hemispheres taking into consideration the reports of artistic productions following brain lesions. It is also suggested that apart from the left-right dichotomy we should take into account the differences in functioning of the anterior and posterior brain areas.

The Charismatic Movement and Augustine: The Challenge of Symbolic Thought in the Modern World

The Charismatic Movement and Augustine: The Challenge of Symbolic Thought in the Modern World

Symbolic Thought and Religious Knowledge

Recent anthropological and psychological studies suggest a distinctive mode of symbolic thinking which questions the structure of Piaget's scheme and which raises important theological issues. Here Sperber's key hypothesis that symbolic data of diverse kinds are integrated into a single system within the individual is applied in two directions: that of religious experience and biblical interpretation, and that of exposure to new ritual phenomena and comparative religion.

Symbolization and Symbolic Thought: Response to Furth

Symbolization and Symbolic Thought: Response to Furth