1-086 - Cognitive Mechanisms of Selective Learning

Session Type: Exchange Symposium

Integrative Statement

Children learn a substantial amount of what they know from the people around them. Research has shown that already early in life, this learning is not naïve, but can follow very sophisticated rules. Specifically, children begin to selectively learn better from people they trust over those they do not trust from a very young age. This selectivity has been of special interest for developmental researchers over the past two decades (see Mills, 2010). However, there is still a striking lack of knowledge concerning the cognitive foundation of this phenomenon.
The aim of the proposed exchange symposium is to explore cognitive mechanisms both behind the decision to trust someone and processing of novel information, after a trust decision has been made.
We will discuss mechanisms behind the decision to trust someone in light of a dual-process account (abstract 1), the distinction between interpersonal and epistemic trust (abstract 2) and differences between ignorance of a model and relevance of novel information (abstract 4). The (neuro-)cognitive mechanisms coming into play after a trust decision has been formed will be discussed taking a closer look at attention allocation during learning (abstract 3) and formation of representations of novel information (abstract 4).
Taken together, novel data on cognitive mechanisms of selective learning, investigated on different levels, will be presented. Finally, in exchange with attendees of the symposium we aim at integrating the accounts and findings from these different levels. This enables us to explore how to increase our understanding of cognitive mechanisms underlying selective learning.

Sub Unit

• Social Cognition

Chair

• Julia Brehm, University of Zurich

Individual Presentations

• Prospects for a Dual-Process Account in the Development of Selective Trust - Presenting Author: Franziska Brugger, University of Göttingen; Non-Presenting Author: Jonas Hermes, University of Goettingen; Non-Presenting Author: Tanya Behne, University of Goettingen; Non-Presenting Author: Hannes Rakoczy, University of Gottingen

• Children’s Selective Trust: Understanding Evidential Reasons, Discovering Interpersonal Reasons - Presenting Author: Pearl Han Li, Institute of Child Development; Non-Presenting Author: Annelise Pesch, Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota; Non-Presenting Author: Melissa A Koenig, Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota

• Attentional Processes of Selective Learning - Presenting Author: Julia Brehm, University of Zurich; Non-Presenting Author: anja gampe, university of zurich; Non-Presenting Author: Moritz M Daum, University of Zurich

• Neurocognitive Mechanisms of Selective Social Learning: ERP Studies - Presenting Author: Mark Sabbagh, Queens University; Non-Presenting Author: Haykaz Mangardich, Queen's University