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50 Years of ERIC
50 Years of ERIC
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Peer reviewed Peer reviewed
ERIC Number: EJ613574
Record Type: CIJE
Publication Date: 2000
Pages: N/A
Abstractor: N/A
Reference Count: 0
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0012-1649
Vitalism in Naive Biological Thinking.
Morris, Suzanne C.; Taplin, John E.; Gelman, Susan A.
Developmental Psychology, v36 n5 p582-95 Sep 2000
Three experiments investigated use of vitalistic explanations for biological phenomena by 5- and 10-year-olds and by adults. Results replicated the original Japanese finding of vitalistic thinking among English-speaking 5-year-olds, identified the more active component of vitalism as a belief in the transfer of energy during biological processes, and suggested a lesser role for organ intentionality. (Author/KB)
Descriptors: Adults, Age Differences, Beliefs, Biology, Children, Cognitive Development, Intention, Pain, Reproduction (Biology), Theories
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers: Biological Processes; Causal Reasoning; Explanations; Folk Wisdom; Scientific Thinking