identity theory

British

noun

philosophy a form of materialism which holds mental states to be identical with certain states of the brain and so to have no separate existence, but regards this identity as contingent so that mentalistic and physicalistic language are not held to be synonymous See also anomalous monism materialism

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Example Sentences

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Manzotti’s belief, which he calls “Spread Mind,” or mind-object identity theory, is that objects are our experience.

From New York Times • Nov. 20, 2019

Social identity theory holds that individuals define themselves as members of groups, each of which has a set of behaviors that are expected of their members.

From Slate • Dec. 19, 2012

Economists Marianne Bertrand, Emir Kamenica, and Jessica Pan have imported social identity theory from social psychology to study the evolution of gender relations over the past few decades.

From Slate • Dec. 19, 2012

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