Human explanation is the cognitive and communicative process by which people convey the underlying reasons, causes, or intentions behind an event, decision, or behavior to facilitate understanding in another person. Rather than presenting an exhaustive account of all contributing factors, human explanation is inherently selective, contextual, and contrastive, typically focusing on why a specific outcome occurred instead of an expected alternative. It functions as a social exchange shaped by cognitive heuristics, mutual assumptions, and conversational norms, tailoring information to the knowledge, beliefs, and expectations of the recipient.
