Imagination essay
Compromise and Cognitive Maps
Alejandra Campos
Professor Hand
7/29/13
When people travel to new places or encounter new ideas, they expand their knowledge. As a result, people start grouping experiences together to be able to use this knowledge to their advantage and succeed later on in life. The combinations of events form outlines inside people’s heads that are used for further reference; these outlines are also referred to as cognitive maps. For example, when people find themselves in unfamiliar surroundings, they automatically try to associate new ideas with the past. They use cognitive maps for their own benefit, especially when they are required to fit in in order to be part of a new group or society. Recollection of the past allows people to not only sympathize and adopt foreign beliefs, but also expand their tolerance towards a variety of social groups when they are exposed to them. Success resulting from people being able to tolerate and adapt to new ideas is best explained by Zadie Smith’s writing, “Speaking in Tongues”. In her writing, Smith describes the benefits of people fitting in by finding their voice or their identity when faced with changes in their social environment. They are able to do this by developing intellectual maps as a result of being exposed to new social conditions. The theory of intellectual maps, also known as cognitive maps, is explained by Alison Gopnik, in her essay, “Possible Worlds: Why Do Children Pretend?” Gopnik explains that whenever people encounter new ideas, they create a map to recollect the places and lessons they have learned to have a better understanding of them in the future. In other words, in order for people to find their voices and be successful, they must be able to develop cognitive maps. Cognitive maps do not only help the internal being of people, but also allows them to succeed in society. Smith expands on Gopnik’s theory of cognitive maps by providing examples of
Alejandra Campos
Professor Hand
7/29/13
When people travel to new places or encounter new ideas, they expand their knowledge. As a result, people start grouping experiences together to be able to use this knowledge to their advantage and succeed later on in life. The combinations of events form outlines inside people’s heads that are used for further reference; these outlines are also referred to as cognitive maps. For example, when people find themselves in unfamiliar surroundings, they automatically try to associate new ideas with the past. They use cognitive maps for their own benefit, especially when they are required to fit in in order to be part of a new group or society. Recollection of the past allows people to not only sympathize and adopt foreign beliefs, but also expand their tolerance towards a variety of social groups when they are exposed to them. Success resulting from people being able to tolerate and adapt to new ideas is best explained by Zadie Smith’s writing, “Speaking in Tongues”. In her writing, Smith describes the benefits of people fitting in by finding their voice or their identity when faced with changes in their social environment. They are able to do this by developing intellectual maps as a result of being exposed to new social conditions. The theory of intellectual maps, also known as cognitive maps, is explained by Alison Gopnik, in her essay, “Possible Worlds: Why Do Children Pretend?” Gopnik explains that whenever people encounter new ideas, they create a map to recollect the places and lessons they have learned to have a better understanding of them in the future. In other words, in order for people to find their voices and be successful, they must be able to develop cognitive maps. Cognitive maps do not only help the internal being of people, but also allows them to succeed in society. Smith expands on Gopnik’s theory of cognitive maps by providing examples of