A Shared Intentionality Account of Uniquely Human Social Bonding

Datos Bibliográficos

ID21786166
AutoresWouter Wolf (0000-0002-6214-5972, Duke University, autor de correspondencia), M Tomasello (0000-0002-1649-088X, Duke University)
Año2025
Volumen20
Número2
Páginas264-275
Fecha de publicación2025-03-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaPerspectives on Psychological Science (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1745-6916 • E-ISSN: 1745-6924
EditorialSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/17456916231201795
PMID37883801
OpenAlexW4387966724
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas5
Referencias citadas125

Many mechanisms of social bonding are common to all primates, but humans seemingly have developed some that are unique to the species. These involve various kinds of interactive experiences—from taking a walk together to having a conversation—whose common feature is the triadic sharing of experience. Current theories of social bonding have no explanation for why humans should have these unique bonding mechanisms. Here we propose a shared intentionality account of uniquely human social bonding. Humans evolved to participate with others in unique forms of cooperative and communicative activities that both depend on and create shared experience. Sharing experience in these activities causes partners to feel closer because it allows them to assess their partner’s cooperative competence and motivation toward them and because the shared representations created during such interactions make subsequent cooperative interactions easier and more effective

Cognitive psychology · Cognitive science · Epistemology · Intentionality · Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior · Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior · Philosophy · Psychology · Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment · Social Psychology