Verified by Psychology Today

What Is a Human?

The point of view of a cognitive scientist.

Cognition
Why Our Brains Are Built to Search for Meaning

Peter Gärdenfors Ph.D. on May 10, 2024

What drives humans to seek connections and significance in the world around them? This quest for meaning derives from the uniquely human ability to plan for the distant future.

What drives humans to seek connections and significance in the world around them? This quest for meaning derives from the uniquely human ability to plan for the distant future.

Consciousness
Waking Up as a Stranger

Peter Gärdenfors Ph.D. on April 5, 2024

When waking up, the self sometimes has lost itself. It may not know where it is. It may also have lost its identity.

When waking up, the self sometimes has lost itself. It may not know where it is. It may also have lost its identity.

Deception
Why Mirrors May Not Show Our "Real" Selves

Peter Gärdenfors Ph.D. on March 7, 2024

We are not satisfied with mirrors because they do not show our "real" selves, but there is no true self, only the result of an ongoing negotiation with ourselves.

We are not satisfied with mirrors because they do not show our "real" selves, but there is no true self, only the result of an ongoing negotiation with ourselves.

Consciousness
Consciousness: Nature's Magical Show

Peter Gärdenfors Ph.D. on February 4, 2024

Consciousness elevates sensory experiences to a performance. It is like an orchestra of instruments. What consciousness shows can help us evaluate reality and plan our actions.

Consciousness elevates sensory experiences to a performance. It is like an orchestra of instruments. What consciousness shows can help us evaluate reality and plan our actions.

Intuition
Intuition Is Implicit Knowledge

Peter Gärdenfors Ph.D. on January 9, 2024

Intuition is knowledge that is the most difficult to motivate. Intuitions depend on extended experience, so experts in an area have better intuitions than laypeople.

Intuition is knowledge that is the most difficult to motivate. Intuitions depend on extended experience, so experts in an area have better intuitions than laypeople.

Consciousness
How the Brain Fills in the Blanks

Peter Gärdenfors Ph.D. on December 7, 2023

Our eyes are not cameras, but the brain fills in what the senses give us to create a coherent picture of the world. In that sense, the world as we see it is partly an illusion.

Our eyes are not cameras, but the brain fills in what the senses give us to create a coherent picture of the world. In that sense, the world as we see it is partly an illusion.

Deception
The Noble Art of Self-Deception

Peter Gärdenfors Ph.D. on July 15, 2023

Self-deception is ubiquitous. For example, we tend to think we are more intelligent, honest, friendly, original, and reliable than average. Self-deception may provide advantages.

Self-deception is ubiquitous. For example, we tend to think we are more intelligent, honest, friendly, original, and reliable than average. Self-deception may provide advantages.

Laughter
Why Do Humans and Animals Laugh?

Peter Gärdenfors Ph.D. on May 11, 2023

If you tickle a rat's belly, it squeals with laughter. The evolutionary roots of laughter might derive from features of play situations.

If you tickle a rat's belly, it squeals with laughter. The evolutionary roots of laughter might derive from features of play situations.

Mind Reading
Why We Are Not Zombies

Peter Gärdenfors Ph.D. on April 30, 2023

How does consciousness arise? What does it consist of? A new book by psychologist Nicholas Humphrey attempts to answer these questions.

How does consciousness arise? What does it consist of? A new book by psychologist Nicholas Humphrey attempts to answer these questions.