understanding
Sign in to saveAlso known as understand, comprehension, grasp, Verstand, the understanding
Understanding is a cognitive process related to an abstract or physical object, such as a person, situation, or message whereby one is able to use concepts to model that object. Understanding is a relation between the knower and an object of understanding. Understanding implies abilities and dispositions with respect to an object of knowledge that are sufficient to support intelligent behavior.
Understanding is the mental ability to grasp how concepts connect to and represent something—whether that's a person, situation, or message—so you can make sense of it. It matters because understanding gives you the knowledge and skills needed to think and act intelligently in relation to what you're trying to comprehend.
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Research
2,089,100 papers- Ascribing understanding to ourselves and others.The American psychologist · 2024Olson DRDOI: 10.1037/amp0001244
- Understanding online health information: Evaluation, tools, and strategies.ReviewPatient education and counseling · 2017Beaunoyer E, Arsenault M, Lomanowska AM et al.DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2016.08.028
- ["Understanding" in psychiatry-part 1 : Philosophical sources and concept analysis].ReviewDer Nervenarzt · 2018Valdés-Stauber JDOI: 10.1007/s00115-017-0454-4
- Consumer understanding of nutrition and health claims: sources of evidence.ReviewThe British journal of nutrition · 2007Leathwood PD, Richardson DP, Sträter P et al.DOI: 10.1017/S000711450778697X
- Understanding Refusals, Using Coercion: Young Men's Understanding and Use of Normalized Sexualized Violence within Heterosex.ReviewJournal of sex research · 2023Wilson MDOI: 10.1080/00224499.2022.2086676
- Conceptual Alignment: How Brains Achieve Mutual Understanding.ReviewTrends in cognitive sciences · 2016Stolk A, Verhagen L, Toni IDOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2015.11.007
- Genetic approaches to understanding post-traumatic stress disorder.ReviewThe international journal of neuropsychopharmacology · 2014Almli LM, Fani N, Smith AK et al.DOI: 10.1017/S1461145713001090
- Effect of Educational Interventions on Understanding and Use of Nutrition Labels: A Systematic Review.Nutrients · 2018Moore SG, Donnelly JK, Jones S et al.DOI: 10.3390/nu10101432
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Article
4 sectionsContents
- Definition
- As a model
- References
- External links
Understanding is a cognitive process related to an abstract or physical object, such as a person, situation, or message whereby one is able to use concepts to model that object. Understanding is a relation between the knower and an object of understanding. Understanding implies abilities and dispositions with respect to an object of knowledge that are sufficient to support intelligent behavior.
Understanding is often, though not always, related to learning concepts, and sometimes also the theory or theories associated with those concepts. However, a person may have a good ability to predict the behavior of an object, animal or system—and therefore may, in some sense, understand it—without necessarily being familiar with the concepts or theories associated with that object, animal, or system in their culture. They may have developed their own distinct concepts and theories, which may be equivalent, better or worse than the recognized standard concepts and theories of their culture. Thus, understanding is correlated with the ability to make inferences.