Abstract
Recent findings indicate interventions can boost executive functions — mental processes that have long been thought to be static and not open to change.
The authors examined whether and how short-term social interactions could create such cognitive benefits.
Study 1 found that basic get-to-know-you interactions (with or without an explicit cooperative goal) boosted executive function relative to controls and as much as nonsocial intellective activities.
In contrast, interactions involving a competitive goal resulted in no boosts. Studies 2 and 3 tested a proposed mechanism for the results — that people need to engage with others and take their perspective to realize cognitive boosts.
The findings show that competitive interactions if structured to allow for interpersonal engagement can boost executive functions. The results highlight how social functioning can enhance core mental capacities.
Paper
Posts that link to this paper
- Engaging in Short Friendly Conversations Improves People’s Thinking Friends with Cognitive Benefits
- Connection Before Content Without relatedness, no work can occur
- Friends with Cognitive Benefits Engaging in short friendly conversations improves people's thinking
Papers: Oscar Ybarra
Tags: cognition (11) | connectedness (6) | friends not enemies (16) | friendship (1) | Oscar Ybarra (2) | talk with strangers (13)
Blook Search
Google Web Search
Photo Credits: Midjourney (Public Domain)
The Gurteen Knowledge Letter is a free monthly newsletter with over 20,000 subscribers that I have been publishing by email for over 20 years.
Learn more about the newsletter and register here.