Words as social tools (WAT): A reprise

Abstract

The paper presents new evidence collected in the last five years supporting the Words As social Tools proposal on abstract concepts. We discuss findings revolving around three central tenets. First, we show that—like concrete concepts—also abstract concepts evoke sensorimotor experiences, even if to a lower extent, and that they are linked to inner experiences (e.g., interoceptive, proprioceptive, and metacognitive). Second, we present findings suggesting that linguistic and social interaction are crucial for acquiring and using abstract concepts. Specifically, rating and behavioral studies reveal that people tend to feel uncertain about the meaning of abstract concepts. On top of that, with abstract concepts, people rely more on others to ask for information, negotiate conceptual meaning, or outsource their knowledge. We propose that inner speech might contribute both to the monitoring process and the preparation to interact with others. Finally, we illustrate recent studies conducted in our lab highlighting abstract concepts variability across individuals (age, expertise), cultures, and languages.