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Cited by 312

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 17 of the 17 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

The Evolution of Truly Social Cognition: The Core Configurations Model

Caporael, Linnda R.·1997·Personality and Social Psychology Review

Abstract

This article introduces a vocabulary suitable for evolutionary analyses in the human cognitive, social, and behavioral sciences. The vocabulary carves a middle way between advocates and critics of evolutionary perspectives by substituting the concept of repeated assembly for nature-nurture dualism. A model of core configurations-based on human morphology and ecology in human evolutionary history-is presented, and I argue that these configurations offace-to-face groups are the selective context for uniquely human mental systems. Hence, human cognition is “truly social,” specialized for group living. The relevance of the core configuration model is illustrated with respect to two areas of interest to social psychologists: the self and social identity, and distributed cognition and shared reality. A final section illustrates the integrative power of the core configuration model with a brief comparison of the social and cognitive tasks faced by scientists and foragers.

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Metadata

Authors
Caporael, L. R.
Venue
Personality and Social Psychology Review
Published
1997-11
Volume
1
Issue
4
Pages
276-298
ISSN
  • 1088-8683 (ISSN-L)
  • 1532-7957
OpenAlex
W2003152910
Cited by
312
References
17
FWCI
12.32
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed

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CoChat. (2026). Citation check: The Evolution of Truly Social Cognition: The Core Configurations Model. https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.1207/s15327957pspr0104_1
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Caporael, L. R. (1997). The Evolution of Truly Social Cognition: The Core Configurations Model. Personality and Social Psychology Review. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327957pspr0104_1

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