What Is Grounded Simulation?

The capacity to mentally simulate objects and events is an important, yet underexplored, component in sociological theorizing. Recent sociological research drawing on simulation research from the cognitive sciences suggests opportunities for new insights via a richer interdisciplinary engagement. To this end, we provide a thorough review of the literature on grounded simulation theory, building on the nascent work in sociology engaging with grounded simulation theory, and discuss its potential for sociological analysis. We highlight its utility as a cognitively plausible framework for addressing important issues in the analysis of culture and action and culture and thinking, including questions of salience, novelty, implicit cognition, deliberation, and the relation between Type 1 and Type 2 processing. We conclude with some considerations for future research.