148 - Dorsa Amir: How Culture Shapes Cognition

This podcast features an interview with Dr. Dorsa Amir, who discusses her research on how culture shapes cognition. The conversation centers around a new framework proposing four pathways (no effect, production, pruning, privileging) by which culture might influence cognitive processes. Dr. Amir uses the Müller-Lyer illusion as a case study, questioning the established view that it's solely a product of visual experience in carpentered environments. The framework aims to clarify existing theories and provide a more mechanistic understanding of culture's impact on cognition, encouraging further research into specific cultural factors and their effects on various cognitive processes. The interview concludes with Dr. Amir's personal journey into cultural psychology, highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of her work.