The Functions of Different Cognitive Structures, and
their Effects on Structure
Differences between Cultural Models--culturally shared
action plans--and Systems of Classification--kinship terminologies, ethnobiological
classifications, etc.-- have been noted, but there has been no systematic
comparison of them as alternative cognitive structures, and no comparison
that takes account of recent formal advances in the analysis of cultural
classification systems or of recent work aimed at clarifying the formal nature
of Cultural Models. I consider the functions served by the two kinds
of cognitive structure in relation to systematic differences in their data,
system boundaries, and structural form. The organizing of rich and
extensive knowledge areas in a productive manner that allows people to communicate
easily, effectively, and creatively about important parts of their lives
represents one of the purposes served by classification systems. Cultural
Models, on the other hand, while still having important social and communicative
functions, are first of all plans for action that have to take account of
the variety of individual motives, goals, knowledge, skills, and so forth.
Their functions can include serving as guidelines for action, but also include
providing meaningful interpretations of the behavior of. Traditionally,
anthropologists have had little trouble recognizing either data or system
boundaries for Classifications, and little trouble with individual variation,
while precisely these problems have regularly arisen in work on Cultural
Models. I see these descriptive differences as important concomitants
of their different functions. A goal of this comparison is to use this
functional approach to help develop better ways of describing and analyzing
Cultural Models. In particular I propose to explore the systematic
effects on the shape and content of Cultural Models produced by the combination
of the needs implied by their function and of the constraints implied by
their shared and distributed nature.
David B. Kronenfeld
University of California in Riverside
Department of Anthropology
http://pages.sbcglobal.net/david-judy/david.html
kfeld@citrus.ucr.edu