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Generics (e.g., “Ravens are black”) express generalizations over categories or their members. Generic language is the subject of numerous works in linguistics, philosophy of language, and psychology. Previous research (Cimpian et al., 2010; Brandone et al., 2015) showed that generics about animals are interpreted as broadly true of members of a kind, yet also accepted based on minimal evidence. This inferential asymmetry is important for suggesting a mechanism by which unfounded generalizations may flourish; nonetheless, prior research has not examined whether this finding extends to the interpretation of social generics (i.e., generics about groups of people). Accordingly, in collaboration with Marchak, Bianchi, and Gelman, I investigated in four studies (n = 665) whether the inferential asymmetry elicited by generics differs as a function of domain (animals vs. people). Before presenting our studies, I consider some of the main theoretical and experimental works carried out on generics. In Chapter 1, I consider the linguistic issues raised by generics. Genericity comprehends a great variety of linguistic phenomena; furthermore, the semantics of these sentences is not straightforward and resist formal analysis (e.g., Krifka et al., 1995). In Chapter 2, I discuss some of the main cognitive implications of generics. I consider the hypothesis that generics are default generalizations (e.g., Leslie & Gelman, 2012) and the influence of generic language on social cognition (e.g., Rhodes et al., 2012). In Chapter 3, I mainly discuss my research. In our studies, participants were randomly assigned to either an Implied Prevalence task (given a generic, asked to estimate the prevalence of a property) or a Truth-Conditions task (given prevalence information, asked whether a generic was true or false). We found that the inferential asymmetry did not differ across domains and also extended to properties varying in type (physical vs. non-physical) and valence (dangerous vs. neutral). Moreover, there were differences as a function of property valence in the Implied Prevalence task and a small but consistent interaction between domain and prevalence in the Truth-Conditions task. I discuss the implications of these results for the semantics of generics and the relation between generics and stereotyping. I generici esprimono generalizzazioni riguardanti le categorie o i loro membri, come “I corvi sono neri”. Il linguaggio generico è oggetto di numerosi lavori di linguistica, filosofia del linguaggio e psicologia. In particolare, alcuni studi hanno mostrato come i generici usati per descrivere animali sono interpretati come relativi a proprietà ampiamente diffuse; tuttavia, gli stessi generici sono giudicati come veri anche sulla base di un’evidenza limitata (Cimpian et al., 2010; Brandone et al., 2015). Questa asimmetria inferenziale è importante perché evidenzia un meccanismo tramite il quale delle generalizzazioni infondate possono proliferare; tuttavia, questi studi non hanno esaminato se tale risultato si estende all’interpretazione dei generici sociali (ovvero, generici relativi a gruppi di persone). Di conseguenza, in collaborazione con Marchak, Bianchi e Gelman ho condotto quattro studi (n = 665) con l’obiettivo di esaminare se l’asimmetria inferenziale causata dai generici varia a seconda dell’ambito di riferimento in questione (animali e persone). Prima di presentare i nostri studi, considero alcuni dei principali lavori teorici e sperimentali che sono stati condotti sui generici. Nel primo capitolo discuto i problemi linguistici sollevati dai generici. La genericità comprende una grande varietà di fenomeni linguistici; inoltre, la semantica di queste frasi non è semplice e resiste ai tentativi di analisi formale (si veda tra gli altri Krifka et al., 1995). Nel secondo capitolo presento alcune delle principali scoperte relative ai generici in campo cognitivo. Considero l’ipotesi che i generici siano generalizzazioni automatiche (per esempio, si veda Leslie & Gelman, 2012) e l’influenza del linguaggio generico sulla cognizione sociale (si veda tra gli altri Rhodes et al., 2012). Nel terzo capitolo discuto principalmente la mia ricerca. Nei nostri studi, i partecipanti sono stati casualmente assegnati al compito della prevalenza implicita (dato un generico, gli è stato chiesto di stimare la prevalenza di una proprietà all’interno della categoria) o delle condizioni di verità (data un’informazione relativa alla prevalenza, gli è stato chiesto di giudicare se un generico fosse vero o falso). I nostri risultati indicano che l’asimmetria inferenziale non varia a seconda degli ambiti di riferimento e si estende anche a proprietà di tipo e di valenza differenti (proprietà fisiche e non fisiche; proprietà neutre e pericolose). Inoltre, abbiamo osservato delle variazioni legate alla valenza delle proprietà testate nel compito della prevalenza implicita e una piccola ma costante interazione tra ambito di riferimento e livello di prevalenza nel compito delle condizioni di verità. Discuto delle conseguenze di questi risultati per lo studio della semantica dei generici e della relazione tra generici e stereotipizzazione.

The results of a geophysical investigation within the site of Pian della Tirena, near the town of Nocera Terinese (Calabria, Italy), are here presented. Geophysical imaging is a recent method that allows not only a reliable mapping of the 3D distribution of magnetic properties below the ground level, thus estimating both position and depth of the buried structures. The site investigated gained archaeological interest since the the presence of two adjacent, but distinct, settlements was hypothesized: the first one of Hellenistic age (Temesa), the second of Roman age (Tempsa?). In spite of recent archaeological excavations, extensive investigations were difficult because of the broadness of the area and the scarceness of traces at the surface, making arduous to plan a targeted survey. Thus, two high resolution geophysical surveys (magnetic and electromagnetic) were carried out in 2006 and 2013 to provide the archaeologists with precise information about the kind and position of buried structures, and to improve the investigation in terms of costs/benefits ratio. The 3D analysis and interpretation of geophysical data shows several anomaly trend, most of which exhibit a rather regular shape and orientation. This let us hypothesize the possible presence of a well-developed urban network. The final results allowed a precise localization of archaeological remnants, thus addressing a successful excavation carried out in 2013.

Slurs are offensive expressions targeting individuals on the basis of their membership to certain social groups. Some authors have argued that the offensiveness of slurs is related to the semantic encoding of stereotypes in their meaning. As noticed by Robin Jeshion (2011, 2013a, 2013b), the stereotypical strategies do not seem to provide a satisfactory analysis of slurs’ functional traits. Herein, I propose to modify her view by making a distinction between two offensive dimensions of slurs: a negative expressive component encoded in the semantic content and directed toward a certain group of individuals, and the social generics related to that group conveyed as conversational implicatures., Phenomenology and Mind, No 11 (2016): Emotions, Normativity, and Social Life

We propose a processing workflow to enhance the information content of aeromagnetic data. Our workflow is based on the downward continuation and subsequent L-transform of magnetic data. This workflow returns a map showing single highs, which correspond to the location of magnetic bodies, and does not need any a priori information about the source magnetization. We validated our workflow using the aeromagnetic anomalies of the Tyrrhenian Sea (Italy), by a comparison of the reprocessed aeromagnetic anomalies with high-resolution shipborne magnetic data in three selected areas. Through this comparison, we show that the proposed processing workflow of aeromagnetic data leads to more accurate interpretative results. Our results indicate that, in areas where higher resolution data are lacking, the reprocessing of aeromagnetic data according to our workflow may be as decisive as to suggest changes to their previous interpretations or, at least, useful for highlighting areas of special interest, deserving to be magnetically explored by a dedicated high-resolution shipborne survey.

Sediments infilling in intermontane basins in areas with high seismic activity can strongly affect ground-shaking phenomena at the surface. Estimates of thickness and density distribution within these basin infills are crucial for ground motion amplification analysis, especially where demographic growth in human settlements has implied increasing seismic risk. We employed a 3D gravity modeling technique (ITerative RESCaling—ITRESC) to investigate the Fucino Basin (Apennines, central Italy), a half-graben basin in which intense seismic activity has recently occurred. For the first time in this region, a 3D model of the Meso-Cenozoic carbonate basement morphology was retrieved through the inversion of gravity data. Taking advantage of the ITRESC technique, (1) we were able to (1) perform an integration of geophysical and geological data constraints and (2) determine a density contrast function through a data-driven process. Thus, we avoided assuming a priori information. Finally, we provided a model that honored the gravity anomalies field by integrating many different kinds of depth constraints. Our results confirmed evidence from previous studies concerning the overall shape of the basin, however, we also highlighted several local discrepancies, such as: (a) the position of several fault lines, (b) the position of the main depocenter, and (c) the isopach map. We also pointed out the existence of a new, unknown fault, and of new features concerning known faults. All of these elements provided useful contributions to the study of the tectono-sedimentary evolution of the basin, as well as key information for assessing the local site-response effects, in terms of seismic hazards.

We report the results of a multidisciplinary investigation performed across the normal Quaternary faults that ruptured the surface during the August 24 (Mw 6.0) and October 30 (Mw 6.5), 2016 strong earthquakes in the Mt. Vettore-Mt. Bove areas, central Italy. Our aim is to test the effectiveness of the contribution of a multi-scale gravimetric analysis in characterizing seismogenic faults’ geometry at hypocentral depths on well-known outcropping faulty systems with known earthquake distribution. We adopted a multi-scale geophysical/geological approach consisting in the comparison of gravity lineaments inferred by Multiscale Derivative Analysis with the Quaternary structural setting mapped in the study area, the primary coseismic surface ruptures of the 2016-2017 sequence and the earthquakes’ epicentral distribution. Moreover, we performed a combined interpretation of 2D hypocentral sections of the 2016-2017 seismic sequences with images resulting from the Depth from Extreme Points method, to infer the faults’ geometry at depth. Based on our results, the investigated NW-SE Mt. Vettore-Mt. Bove fault system is dipping 60°-70° westward. We also detected the splays of this primary fault and its blind antithetic NW-SE structure, dipping northeastward. In the Norcia basin we highlight two main faults bordering the basin with a dip of about 45°. The one edging the eastern side dips westward, whereas the fault edging the western side dips eastward. Thanks to our analysis we could identify and characterize the geometry of the Norcia and Vettore master faults, as well as other blind/buried and/or silent faults that are related to the 2016 seismogenic structure. Our results show the effectiveness of this approach in potentially high-hazard areas that are structurally poorly known.