Cognitive Paradigms

The frameworks of assumptions, concepts, and processes that shape how individuals and groups think, perceive, and understand. Cognitive Paradigms include mental models, conceptual schemes, cognitive styles, and ways of knowing—all the structures that shape how we make sense of the world. They're what cognitive science studies when it examines how minds work, but with the added recognition that these structures are not universal but vary across individuals, cultures, and contexts.

Example: "She thought everyone thought like her. Cognitive Paradigms showed her otherwise: different minds, different paradigms. Her way of thinking wasn't the way; it was a way."

Cognitive Paradigms by Abzugal March 9, 2026

Theory of Social and Cognitive Paradigms

The theory that we see everything and understand reality through paradigms—frameworks of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that shape what we can see and how we interpret it. The Theory of Social and Cognitive Paradigms argues that this applies to everything, including the scientific method itself, which operates within its own paradigms that change over time. There is no paradigm-free perception, no view from nowhere. What we take to be "just the facts" is always facts-as-seen-through-a-particular-paradigm. The theory explains paradigm shifts in science (Kuhn), cultural differences in perception, and the persistence of disagreement even among reasonable people. It's the foundation of humility about knowledge, the recognition that our way of seeing is one among many.

Example: "He used to think science was just accumulating facts. The Theory of Social and Cognitive Paradigms showed him otherwise: facts were always facts-within-a-paradigm. When paradigms shifted, facts shifted too. Science wasn't a straight line; it was a series of revolutions, each with its own way of seeing."

Theory of Social and Cognitive Paradigms by Abzugal March 9, 2026

Cognitive Paradigm Theory

The study of the fundamental models that have dominated the science of the mind, each defining what the mind is and how it should be studied. Major paradigms include: the computational/representational (mind as software), connectionist (mind as neural networks), embodied/enactive (mind as an activity of the whole body in an environment), and ecological (mind as a perception-action system). Switching paradigms changes what you think thoughts are made of.

Example: The shift from seeing the mind as a symbol-manipulating computer (the classic AI paradigm) to seeing it as a predictive processing machine constantly generating and updating a model of the world is a Cognitive Paradigm Theory revolution. It changes the goal of psychology from programming rules to understanding Bayesian belief updating.

Cognitive Paradigm Theory by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 4, 2026

Breadhead 

Someone who is addicted to obtaining money and building wealth. A money addict and fanatic. Breadheads often work more than one full-time job, and some even participate in illicit activities to "obtain the bread".

A breadhead is like a crackhead, but for money instead of crack.

Breadhead by 🅱️ U S 3 4 8 March 30, 2022

Stink lines

As seen in illustrations or cartoons: Wavy, vertical lines rising above a person, place or thing. Denotes a foul odor.

"You didn't put enough stink lines on your picture of the teacher."

Stink lines by Athene Airheart March 14, 2004

schmegegge 

Yiddish slang word meaning bullshit, baloney, hogwash, nonsense, crock of shit or hot air.

I don't buy the schmegegge about Morty sleeping with Moira.
His version of the story was pure schmegegge.
The whole schmegegge was made up to get Liz a little bit of attention.

schmegegge by budsbabe February 1, 2008

eye bleach 

Looking or experiencing something nice after witnessing something horrid like a disgusting gif or a disturbing video. Typically used as eye bleach are nice images of whatever makes the disturbed person happy.

"Bleach my eyes! Why is that woman's face ripped off!?"
*Looks up images of puppies and kittens.*
"That's good eye bleach."

eye bleach by Rini2012 November 29, 2016