Interactive Minds : Life-span Perspectives on the Social Foundation of Cognition

Interactive Minds studies cognition and cognitive development in the social context of the life course. Borrowing from the fields of educational, cognitive, and developmental psychology, it uses both research and theory to address such topics as moral goals, culture, cooperation, and linguistics.

Various theoretical models in psychology have emphasized the social foundation of the mind and the role that social interactions play in human development. Interactive minds emphasizes social transaction and communication between minds without implying particular mechanisms and outcomes. For instance, not all products of interacting minds are positive. Interactive Minds also takes a life-span perspective, which is especially suited for understanding interactive dynamics of behaviour and human development. Experts from a variety of fields address such issues as biological aspects of cooperation, the role of social interaction in learning, the conceptualization of linguistic knowledge, and peer problem solving. In a concluding Epilogue, implications are presented for various fields, including education, developmental and cognitive psychology, and cultural anthropology.