MAKING SENSE OF SOCIAL REALITY: THE BRAIN STORY

Written by Oana BENGA on 15 December 2006. Posted in Special issue: Making Sense Of Social Reality, Guest Editor: Petru L. CURŞEU, Volume IX, Nr. 4

Abstract:

This paper is focused on social cognitive neuroscience and its potential for bridging social and biological approaches. Recent findings in the field are reviewed from a social information processing framework, which offers more transparency in connecting cognitive aspects with brain correlates. Perception of social and socioemotional stimuli, social judgment and attribution, with a focus on theory of mind, cognitive appraisal and social interaction are all considered from the perspective of their neural correlates. Finally, future research directions are put forward, with a special emphasis on connections between social constructivist theoretical underpinnings and neuroscience.

Keywords: social information processing, social cognition, social neuroscience