Embodied cognition
Embodied cognition represents a diverse group of theories which investigate how cognition is shaped by the bodily state and capacities of the organism. These embodied factors include the motor system, the perceptual system, bodily interactions with the environment (situatedness), and the assumptions about the world that shape the functional structure of the brain and body of the organism. Embodied cognition suggests that these elements are essential to a wide spectrum of cognitive functions, such as perception biases, memory recall, comprehension and high-level mental constructs (such as meaning attribution and categories) and performance on various cognitive tasks (reasoning or judgment).
The embodied mind thesis challenges other theories, such as cognitivism, computationalism, and Cartesian dualism. It is closely related to the extended mind thesis, situated cognition, and enactivism. The modern version depends on understandings drawn from up-to-date research in psychology, linguistics, cognitive science, dynamical systems, artificial intelligence, robotics, animal cognition, plant cognition, and neurobiology.
An embodied allegory is a narrative where the symbolic meaning is rooted in physical, sensory, and bodily experiences, rather than just abstract ideas. In this type of allegory, the story’s “source domain” (the literal actions and events) directly relates to “embodied concepts,” meaning those that originate from our physical interactions with the world.
How it works
Focus on the body: Unlike a traditional allegory where a character might represent a virtue like “Justice” in a purely conceptual way, an embodied allegory connects the symbolic meaning to real-world, bodily sensations like hunger, warmth, or physical movement.
The implicit meaning: The “target domain”—the underlying abstract concept—is never explicitly stated. The reader or viewer must infer the deeper meaning by mentally simulating the physical actions described.
Example from poetry: In Adrienne Rich’s poem “Diving Into the Wreck,” a scuba diver explores a sunken ship.
The embodied action: The physical act of diving into a deep, dark wreck and investigating it.
The allegorical meaning: This concrete action represents the psychological process of looking back at a past, failed romantic relationship to understand what went wrong.
Key principles of embodied allegory
Physical actions map to abstract concepts: Embodied cognition theory suggests that our understanding of abstract ideas is built upon concrete, physical experiences. An embodied allegory leverages this by using concrete sensory and motor actions to represent complex, abstract thoughts.
Enhanced understanding: Studies have shown that when a reader’s physical posture or movement is compatible with the physical action in a metaphorical story, their comprehension of the discourse is enhanced.
Multimodal experience: Embodied allegories engage multiple senses, creating a more dynamic and forceful interpretation for the audience. The meaning isn’t just in the words, but in the simulated physical sensation of what is being described.
Distinction from simple allegory: A simple allegory can use personification, where an abstract idea like “Greed” is a character. An embodied allegory is more subtle, using a character’s physical experiences to evoke the abstract concept, rather than naming it directly.