Ay?e K. Üskül|Shinobu Kitayama|Richard E. Nisbett
Ecocultural basis of cognition: Farmers and fishermen are more holistic than herders
University of Essex|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
proposed social interdependence fosters holistic cognition tendency attend broad perceptual cognitive field rather focal object properties tendency reason terms relationships similarities rather rules categories hypothesis supported mostly demonstrations showing east asians relatively interdependent reason perceive holistic fashion westerners examined holistic cognitive tendencies attention categorization reasoning three types communities belong national geographic ethnic linguistic regions yet vary degree social interdependence farming fishing herding communities turkeys eastern black sea region predicted members farming fishing communities emphasize harmonious social interdependence exhibited greater holistic tendencies members herding communities emphasize individual decision making foster social independence findings implications ecocultural factors may lasting consequences important aspects cognition