Neurosociology and Theory of Mind (ToM)

Hopcroft, Rosemary L.

doi:10.1007/978-94-007-4473-8_16

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…Over the past decade advancements in neuroscience have caught the attention of some sociologists who study micro-level processes (Franks, 2010; Franks and Turner, 2013; Shkurko, 2012). For example, some have applied neuroscience to understand basic elements of interpersonal behavior often addressed by symbolic interactionists, specifically the areas of social cognition and mind (Franks, 2013; Hopcroft, 2013; Humphreys and Bedford, 2011; Maryanski, 2013; Shook, 2013). Others have applied neuroscience to understand familiar sociological processes, such as aggression (Bufkin and Luttrell, 2005; Mehta et al, 2013; Siever, 2008), self and identity processes (Arzy et al, 2008; Gillihan and Farah, 2005; Molnar-Szakacs and Uddin, 2013; Niemeyer, 2013), stereotyping and prejudice (Amodio and Lieberman, 2009; Brauer and Er-rafiy, 2011; Nelson, 2013), and even inequality (Davis, 2013).…”

Section: The Future Of Symbolic Interactionismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Symbols, meaning, and action: The past, present, and future of symbolic interactionism

2016

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Symbolic interactionism is a theoretical perspective in sociology that addresses the manner in which society is created and maintained through face-to-face, repeated, meaningful interactions among individuals. This article surveys past theory and research in the interactionist tradition. It first provides an overview of three main trajectories in symbolic interactionist thought, focusing on the work of Herbert Blumer (the Chicago School), Manford Kuhn (the Iowa School), and Sheldon Stryker (the Indiana School). A brief summary of each figure’s general perspective on symbolic interactionism is given, followed by a discussion of the research methodology that defines and distinguishes each. The article then reviews and assesses the empirical research that has emerged from these trajectories over the past decades, beginning with the classical studies of the mid-twentieth century and culminating in research programs that have emerged in the contemporary era. Specifically, this article surveys significant contributions to the symbolic interactionist literature in areas such as dramaturgy, cultural studies, postmodernism, gender/status/power, self and identity, collective behavior and social movements, and social context and the environment. It concludes with a discussion of future directions symbolic interactionists should take in continuing to develop the field.

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Section: The Future Of Symbolic Interactionismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Symbols, meaning, and action: The past, present, and future of symbolic interactionism

2016

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“…The inherent interdisciplinarity of neurosociology often leads researchers to seek answers to their theoretical questions in places they had not previously considered. In this way, neurosociologists examine the same social structures and processes that concern sociology more broadly, including interactional mechanisms that create and enhance solidarity (Hammond 2003), the relationship between mind and society (Hopcroft 2013), and how the social dimensions of status and power affect interaction (Melamed & Abromaviciute 2013;Kalkhoff et al 2020), to name only a few. In the remainder of this section we discuss how researchers have fruitfully utilized EEG and fMRI to shed light on sociological questions.…”

Section: Fmri and Eeg Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Handbook of Sociological Science: Contributions to Rigorous Sociology

Sorensen

2024

Contemp Sociol

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The Research Handbooks in Sociology series provides an up-to-date overview on the frontier developments in current sociological research fields. The series takes a theoretical, methodological and comparative perspective to the study of social phenomena. This includes different analytical approaches, competing theoretical views and methodological innovations leading to new insights in relevant sociological research areas. Each Research Handbook in this series provides timely, influential works of lasting significance. These volumes will be edited by one or more outstanding academics with a high international reputation in the respective research field, under the overall guidance of series editor Hans-Peter Blossfeld, Professor of Sociology at the University of Bamberg. The Research Handbooks feature a wide range of original contributions by well-known authors, carefully selected to ensure a thorough coverage of current research. The Research Handbooks will serve as vital reference guides for undergraduate students, doctoral students, postdoctorate students and research practitioners in sociology, aiming to expand current debates, and to discern the likely research agendas of the future.

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“…The neuroscience literature on empathy—“reading” or understanding others' intentions, thoughts and emotions—has revealed that this capacity is a human universal underlined by activation in the medial and orbitofrontal prefrontal cortices (alongside temporo-parietal regions of the brain; Frith and Frith, 2001 ; Saxe et al, 2004 ; Hynes et al, 2006 ; Singer, 2006 ; Shamay-Tsoory et al, 2010 ; Schurz et al, 2014 ). Also referred to as the “theory of mind” (ToM), humans' ability to attribute intentions and motivations to others' behaviors, thoughts and desires emerge as young as 4 years old and is severely impaired in children with autism (Frith and Frith, 1999 ; Gallagher and Frith, 2003 ; also see Hopcroft, 2013 for a sociological treatise). Traditionally measured through a “false-belief task” that presents a child with a story about an actor who leaves an object in a room (e.g., a piece of chocolate left on the table) and exits the room, after which the location of the object is changed by someone else (e.g., chocolate is put in the drawer) and asks where the returning actor would search for their object (on the table—actor's perspective, or in the drawer—the child's perspective; Wimmer and Perner, 1983 ).…”

Section: The Prefrontal Cortex and Abstract Functioningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Opening the “Black Box”: Functions of the Frontal Lobes and Their Implications for Sociology

Firat

2019

Front. Sociol.

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Previous research has provided theoretical frameworks for building inter-disciplinary bridges between sociology and the neurosciences; yet, more anatomically, or functionally focused perspectives offering detailed information to sociologists are largely missing from the literature. This manuscript addresses this gap by offering a comprehensive review of the functions of the frontal lobes, arguably the most important brain region involved in various "human" skills ranging from abstract thinking to language. The paper proposes that the functions of the frontal lobe sub-regions can be divided into three interrelated hierarchical systems with varying degrees of causal proximity in regulating human behavior and social connectedness: (a) the most proximate, voluntary, controlled behavior-including motor functions underlying action-perception and mirror neurons, (b) more abstract motivation and emotional regulation-such as Theory of Mind and empathy, and (c) the higher-order executive functioning-e.g., inhibition of racial bias. The paper offers insights from the social neuroscience literature on phenomena that lie at the core of social theory and research including moral cognition and behavior, and empathy and inter-group attitudes and provides future research questions for interdisciplinary research.

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Neurosociology and Theory of Mind (ToM)

Cited by 5 publications

References 50 publications

Symbols, meaning, and action: The past, present, and future of symbolic interactionism

Symbols, meaning, and action: The past, present, and future of symbolic interactionism

Handbook of Sociological Science: Contributions to Rigorous Sociology

Opening the “Black Box”: Functions of the Frontal Lobes and Their Implications for Sociology

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