Limits on efficient human mindreading

Convergence across Chinese adults and Semai children

Bibliographic Data

ID5268771
AuthorsBo Wang (0000-0002-0290-2134, Victoria University of Wellington New Zealand), Nur Shafiqah Abdul Hadi (Victoria University of Wellington New Zealand), Jason Low (0000-0002-8342-7645, Victoria University of Wellington New Zealand, corresponding author)
Year2015
Volume106
Issue4
Pages724-740
Publication date2015-11-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBritish Journal of Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0007-1269 • E-ISSN: 2044-8295
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/bjop.12121
PMID25631400
OpenAlexW2012510626
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited30

We tested Apperly and Butterfill's (2009, Psychological Review, 116, 753) theory that humans have two mindreading systems whereby the efficient-system guiding anticipatory glances displays signature limits that do not apply to the flexible system guiding verbal predictions. Experiments 1 and 2 tested urban Mainland-Chinese adults (n = 64) and Experiment 3 tested Semai children living in the rainforests of Peninsular Malaysia (3- to 4-year-olds, n = 60). Participants - across different ages, groups and methods - anticipated others' false-beliefs about object-location but not object-identity. Convergence in signature limits signalled that the early-developing efficient system involved minimal theory-of-mind. Chinese adults and older Semai children showed flexibility in their direct predictions. The flexible mindreading system in ascribing others' beliefs as such was task-sensitive and implicated maturational and cultural contributions

Convergence (economics) · Developmental psychology · Child and Animal Learning Development · Cultural Differences and Values · Language and cultural evolution · Psychology

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