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MENTAL MODEL · M5379

Preformationism

Preformationism
BehaviorHigh supportPsychology
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

An ancient erroneous theory holding that a sperm or egg already contains a tiny, fully formed homunculus, and development is merely its growth.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

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A metaphor for determinism. Many people hold a 'psychological preformationism'—believing that one's destiny, personality, and abilities are set at the factory, and later life is just unfolding. Modern science tells us to believe in 'epigenesis': complex structures are gradually generated through interaction with the environment, not pre-written.

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Preformationism holds that complex structures already exist completely in the embryo, and development is merely 'enlargement'; modern biology refutes it with epigenesis—structures are gradually generated through interaction with the environment.

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Source support: Explicit

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    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PreformationismZH · Explicit
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