Westerners and Asians Have Different Conceptual Structures: Evidence from Two Categorization Tasks

Abstract

This research paper examines the contrasting conceptual structures of Westerners and Asians in the context of categorization. Drawing on previous studies, the paper explores the influence of cultural factors on individuals' thought processes, specifically focusing on relational and taxonomic thinking. The central hypothesis posits that Westerners and East Asians differ in their categorization strategies due to cultural variations. The study involved participants from Taiwan and the United States who completed categorization tasks involving biological kinds and artifacts. The results revealed a significant disparity in categorization patterns between the two groups. Westerners exhibited a higher inclination towards taxonomic categorization, whereas East Asians demonstrated a preference for relational categorization. Furthermore, when the relationship between objects was disrupted, East Asians were more likely to perceive a lack of existence compared to Westerners. These findings provide empirical evidence supporting the notion that cultural influences shape cognitive processes and conceptual frameworks.