Published in:
01-04-2011 | Original Article
Cognitive Science Speaks to the “Common-Sense” of Chronic Illness Management
Authors:
Howard Leventhal, Ph.D., Elaine A. Leventhal, M.D., Ph.D., Jessica Y. Breland, M.S.
Published in:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine
|
Issue 2/2011
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Abstract
We describe the parallels between findings from cognitive science and neuroscience and Common-Sense Models in four areas: (1) Activation of illness representations by the automatic linkage of symptoms and functional changes with concepts (an integration of declarative and perceptual and procedural knowledge); (2) Action plans for the management of symptoms and disease; (3) Cognitive and behavioral heuristics (executive functions parallel to recent findings in cognitive science) involved in monitoring and modifying automatic control processes; (4) Perceiving and communicating to “other minds” during medical visits to address the declarative and non-declarative (perceptual and procedural) knowledge that comprise a patient’s representations of illness and treatment (the transparency of other minds).