Cognitive Construct

A Cognitive Construct is a mental structure that actively organizes, processes, and interprets patterns of thought, knowledge, and experience through intentional mental representations.

• AKA: Mental Construct, Cognitive Structure, Mental Framework, Cognitive Schema, Knowledge Framework.
• Context:
  • It can typically function as a Psychological Framework for information processing.
  • It can typically organize Experience through cognitive categorization.
  • It can typically process New Information through active learning.
  • It can typically guide Perception through interpretative framework.
  • It can typically influence Behavior through cognitive mediation.
  • ...
  • It can often develop through Direct Experience via environmental interaction.
  • It can often evolve through Social Learning via cultural transmission.
  • It can often adapt through Conceptual Reorganization via cognitive accommodation.
  • It can often modify through New Experience via schema adjustment.
  • It can often resist Contradictory Information via cognitive consistency.
  • ...
  • It can range from being a Simple Cognitive Construct to being a Complex Cognitive Construct, depending on its structural complexity.
  • It can range from being a Concrete Cognitive Construct to being an Abstract Cognitive Construct, depending on its conceptual level.
  • It can range from being a Domain-Specific Cognitive Construct to being a Domain-General Cognitive Construct, depending on its application scope.
  • It can range from being a Basic Mental Framework to being a Complex Knowledge Structure, depending on its developmental stage.
  • ...
  • It can provide Cognitive Economy through information compression.
  • It can facilitate Decision Making through cognitive heuristic.
  • It can enable Predictive Ability through pattern recognition.
  • It can support Identity Formation through self-concept organization.
  • It can connect to Cultural Context for situated cognition.
  • It can guide Problem Solving through cognitive strategy.
  • ...
• Examples:
  • Belief-Based Cognitive Constructs, such as:
    • Self-Related Belief Constructs, such as:
      • Self Efficacy Belief for capability assessment.
      • Self Concept for identity representation.
      • Self Worth Belief for personal value assessment.
    • World-Related Belief Constructs, such as:
      • Just World Belief for fairness expectation.
      • Fixed Worldview for stability assumption.
      • Explanatory Belief for phenomenon interpretation.
  • Schema-Based Cognitive Constructs, such as:
    • Social Schemas, such as:
      • Person Schema for individual trait organization.
      • Role Schema for social position expectation.
      • Cultural Model for social interpretation.
    • Knowledge Schemas, such as:
      • Learning Structure for knowledge assimilation.
      • Educational Framework for learning process.
      • Knowledge Assimilation Pattern for information integration.
  • Predictive Cognitive Constructs, such as:
    • Mental Models, such as:
      • Causal Mental Model for cause-effect relationship representation.
      • Spatial Mental Model for physical environment representation.
      • Anticipatory Framework for event prediction.
    • Problem Solving Structures, such as:
      • Solution Strategy for challenge resolution.
      • Decision Framework for choice selection.
      • Procedural Mental Model for action sequence representation.
  • ...
• Counter-Examples:
  • Behavioral Response, which is an observable action rather than an internal mental structure.
  • Neurological Pathway, which is a physical brain connection rather than a conceptual structure.
  • Emotional State, which is an affective experience rather than a cognitive organization.
  • Pure Instinct, which lacks conscious organization characteristic of cognitive constructs.
  • Raw Sensation, which precedes cognitive processing required for cognitive constructs.
• See: Schema Theory, Mental Model, Cognitive Psychology, Knowledge Representation, Belief System, Information Processing, Constructivist Theory, Learning Theory, Situated Learning.

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