Cognition and Cultural Modeling

This chapter explores the ways in which knowledge and ideas about nature, as well as processes of thinking, are embedded in social learning and contextualized by place. Cultural model theory and method are described as an approach to understanding the assumptions, knowledge, emotions, and actions diverse stakeholder groups have as they navigate localized environmental issues. As a methodological approach that yields concise, accurate representations of complex cultural data, it is arguably useful for communicating between stakeholder groups and in policy-making processes, furthering people’s capacity for meaningful collective action. Applications for sustainability, environmental justice (particularly the often-overlooked issue of epistemic justice), and climate change are addressed.