chronesthesia

n. a hypothetical ability or capacity of the human brain or mind, acquired through evolution, that allows humans to be constantly aware of the past and the future. The key feature of this “mental time travel” is to enable people to anticipate the future—that is, to learn what to avoid and how to behave in the future—by recalling past events. For example, chronesthesia enables people over time to “distinguish friends from foes” in social relationships and to develop tools that work well (and discard those that do not) in occupational activities. [introduced by Endel Tulving]

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Psychology term of the day

May 10th 2024

collective guilt

1. an unpleasant emotional state involving a shared realization that one’s group or social unit has violated ethical or social principles, together with associated feelings of regret. Collective guilt is more likely when members of a group (a) strongly identify with that group, (b) feel a sense of control over or responsibility for the negative actions of other members, and (c) recognize the group’s actions are illegitimate.

2. the idea that members of a group may be held responsible for violations of norms or laws committed by other members of the same group. See group fallacy; guilt by association.