Childhood essentialism

Abstract

Essentialism is the intuitive belief that certain categories, such as "tiger," "boy," or "gold," have an underlying reality that goes beyond surface appearances. Childhood essentialism provides insights regarding the nature, origins, and development of human cognition. This chapter reviews the current state of the art regarding research on childhood essentialism, addressing five key issues: (1) what is essentialism and why is it important?; (2) the role of experience (including context, culture, and identity); (3) language as a uniquely powerful mode of transmission; (4) developmental origins; and (5) consequences for social issues and education. Throughout, the chapter considers how children's essentialism works in concert with, and alongside, other cognitive, linguistic, social, and societal processes. Ultimately, childhood essentialism can be considered a "double-edged sword," contributing to human propensities that are both impressive (an early-developing ability to look beyond the obvious) and problematic (stereotyping, prejudice, and intergroup bias).

Keywords: Children; Cognitive development; Culture; Essentialism; Generics; Language; Social cognition.