防止认知僵化，笔记

Symbolic or metaphoric thinking works by linking a more basic or bodily-related source (like a physical experience) to a more abstract target (like an idea). But for metaphors to work well, the source and target must be:

1.  Connected – there must be some meaningful link between them.

2.  Differentiated – they must still be seen as distinct.

If these conditions aren’t met—if they’re either not linked or too similar—then the metaphor fails. In such cases, people may interpret the metaphor too literally or concretely, misunderstanding the deeper meaning.

I asked:

What are the cognitive consequences led by faulty symbolic/metaphoric thinkings?

ChatGPT said:

Faulty symbolic/metaphoric thinking—where metaphors are misunderstood, misapplied, or taken too literally—can lead to several cognitive consequences, especially in how people interpret the world, relate to others, and understand themselves. Here are the key consequences:

1. Overly Concrete Thinking (Loss of Abstraction)

When a metaphor is taken too literally, the person may become stuck in concrete interpretations, unable to grasp symbolic or abstract meanings.

• Example: A child who hears "my heart is broken" might worry about someone's physical health instead of understanding it as emotional pain.

破镜不能重圆，“破碎的关系”可以重建。

2. Cognitive Rigidity

Improper metaphorical mapping can lead to rigid thinking, where a person relies too narrowly on one frame of reference and resists alternate interpretations or new perspectives.

• In psychoanalysis, this might appear as a failure to move beyond early childhood associations.

抽象概念不完全等同于某个对应的具体概念。不能强行等同，否则导致认知僵化。如“时间就是金钱”，“我的祖国母亲”。

3. Projection and Confusion of Self and Other

In psychoanalytic terms, faulty metaphor use might blur distinctions between self and other, or past and present.

• A person might treat a current relationship as if it were an unresolved one from childhood, without realizing they are importing old emotional patterns.

隐喻性认知是具身化的，我们将身体感觉向外部世界投射以形成认知。感觉相似则认知相似。区分感觉、认知和现实。

4. Symbolic Distortion and Delusion

In more severe cases (e.g., in psychosis or personality disorders), metaphorical confusion may lead to symbolic distortion—where abstract or symbolic ideas are treated as real in a delusional way.

• Example: Taking religious metaphors as literal commands or threats.

认知幻象、符号幻象、拜物主义。

5. Impaired Reflective Thinking

Good metaphorical thinking allows for reflection, irony, and layered meaning. When it breaks down, a person may struggle with nuance, ambiguity, or emotional complexity, leading to overly simplistic or black-and-white thinking.

过度简化的隐喻认知模型会损伤认知。“玉不琢，不成器”是理解教育的一种方式，但并非唯一方式。接受相互矛盾的隐喻认知模型，防止认知僵化。