'Philosophy Today' Public Lecture Series 2024 | Dr. Emma Otterski | 'Decoding Perception: Power, Status, & How We See Others'
Dr. Emma Otterski | Teaching Fellow, Philosophy | Trinity College Dublin
Have you ever considered how we truly understand the people we interact with every day? What subtle signals do we rely on to interpret their thoughts and feelings, and how much does our understanding of them depend on the world around us? Emma Otterski works on social cognition – how to explain our (mis)understanding of others.
One area she focuses on is how we attribute different mental states to others, such as their beliefs, desires, moods, and emotions. For instance, we perceive the man at the restaurant not as scrunching his fists, emitting loud noises, and undergoing facial contortions; instead, we see him as angry. This ability to interpret emotions is essential for knowing how to act and interact with others, but how do we do it?
In this talk, Emma will discuss how our understanding of others is influenced by the society we live in. Drawing upon insights from social and cross-cultural psychology, as well as philosophical insights, she will explore how our perceptions of power and status can shape our cognitive processes. Additionally, she will discuss the possible social and political consequences of these dynamics.