The Cultural Construction of “Executive Function”

This article examines how executive function—commonly understood as a set of cognitive processes related to self-control, planning, and working memory—is shaped by cultural environments and social learning. Drawing on cross-cultural evidence, the authors argue that executive function is not a universally uniform cognitive construct but is influenced by local practices, developmental contexts, and cultural expectations. The study challenges assumptions of universality in cognitive psychology and highlights the importance of integrating cultural perspectives into the study of cognition.