Abstract
As empirical research on mind-wandering accelerates, we draw attention to an emerging trend in how mind-wandering is conceptualized. Previously articulated definitions of mind-wandering differ from each other in important ways, yet they also maintain overlapping characteristics. This conceptual structure suggests that mind-wandering is best considered from a family-resemblances perspective, which entails treating it as a graded, heterogeneous construct and clearly measuring and describing the specific aspect(s) of mind-wandering that researchers are investigating. We believe that adopting this family-resemblances approach will increase conceptual and methodological connections among related phenomena in the mind-wandering family and encourage a more nuanced and precise understanding of the many varieties of mind-wandering.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 479-490 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Trends in Cognitive Sciences |
| Volume | 22 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| Early online date | 15 May 2018 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jun 2018 |
Bibliographical note
© 2018, Elsevier Ltd. This is an author-produced version of the published paper. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy.Keywords
- definition
- family resemblances
- heterogeneous
- mind-wandering
- varieties