article published yes Philip Fabian Porwol author 56681 Ingrid Scharlau author 4510000-0003-2364-9489 424 department TRR 318; TP C04: Metaphern als Werkzeug des Erklärens project Explanations play a crucial role in knowledge transfer and meaning-making and are often described as a co-constructive process in which multiple agents collaboratively shape understanding. However, the metaphors used to conceptualize explaining may influence how this process is framed. This study investigates the extent to which the co-constructive nature of explaining is represented in explaining metaphors. Using a systematic analysis of agency, we examined how these metaphors depict the explanation process and the roles of the agents involved. We found that explaining metaphors lack collaboration between explainer and addressee, constructiveness of the process, as well as bidirectionality and iterativeness. In light of current research on metaphorical framing, the study thus highlights the risk that such explaining metaphors may reinforce a non-co-constructive perspective on explaining and a top-down approach in the development of AI systems as well as other areas. 2025 eng https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1628706 Porwol, Philip Fabian, and Ingrid Scharlau. “Is Explaining More like Showing or More like Building? Agency in Metaphors of Explaining.” <i>Frontiers in Psychology</i>, 2025, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1628706">https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1628706</a>. @article{Porwol_Scharlau_2025, title={Is explaining more like showing or more like building? Agency in metaphors of explaining}, DOI={<a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1628706">https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1628706</a>}, journal={Frontiers in Psychology}, author={Porwol, Philip Fabian and Scharlau, Ingrid}, year={2025} } Porwol PF, Scharlau I. Is explaining more like showing or more like building? Agency in metaphors of explaining. <i>Frontiers in Psychology</i>. Published online 2025. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1628706">https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1628706</a> P. F. Porwol and I. Scharlau, “Is explaining more like showing or more like building? Agency in metaphors of explaining,” <i>Frontiers in Psychology</i>, 2025, doi: <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1628706">https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1628706</a>. Porwol, P. F., &#38; Scharlau, I. (2025). Is explaining more like showing or more like building? Agency in metaphors of explaining. <i>Frontiers in Psychology</i>. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1628706">https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1628706</a> P.F. Porwol, I. Scharlau, Frontiers in Psychology (2025). Porwol, Philip Fabian, and Ingrid Scharlau. “Is Explaining More like Showing or More like Building? Agency in Metaphors of Explaining.” <i>Frontiers in Psychology</i>, 2025. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1628706">https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1628706</a>. 612442025-09-12T09:43:58Z2025-10-27T08:46:28Z