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Is egocentric bias evidence for simulation theory

Wallin, Annika LU orcid (2011) In Synthese 178. p.503-514
Abstract
Revised simulation theory (Goldman, 2006) allows mental state attributions containing some or all of the attributor’s genuine, non-simulated mental states. It is thought that this gives the revised theory an empirical advantage, because unlike theory theory and rationality theory, it can explain egocentric bias (the tendency to over attribute ones’ own mental states to others). I challenge this view, arguing that theory theory and rationality theory can explain egocentricity by appealing to heuristic mindreading and the diagnosticity of attributors’ own beliefs, and that these explanations are as simple and consistent as those provided by revised simulation theory.
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author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
mindreading, revised simulation theory, rationality theory, simulation, simulation theory, theory of mind, true false consensus effect, egocentric bias, quarantine failure, theory theory, false consensus effect, Goldman
in
Synthese
volume
178
pages
503 - 514
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • wos:000286935100005
  • scopus:79551610696
ISSN
0039-7857
DOI
10.1007/s11229-009-9653-2
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
0a9834ee-880c-43b6-ac35-85500e8f51d1 (old id 1607224)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 09:24:22
date last changed
2024-01-12 13:03:34
@article{0a9834ee-880c-43b6-ac35-85500e8f51d1,
  abstract     = {{Revised simulation theory (Goldman, 2006) allows mental state attributions containing some or all of the attributor’s genuine, non-simulated mental states. It is thought that this gives the revised theory an empirical advantage, because unlike theory theory and rationality theory, it can explain egocentric bias (the tendency to over attribute ones’ own mental states to others). I challenge this view, arguing that theory theory and rationality theory can explain egocentricity by appealing to heuristic mindreading and the diagnosticity of attributors’ own beliefs, and that these explanations are as simple and consistent as those provided by revised simulation theory.}},
  author       = {{Wallin, Annika}},
  issn         = {{0039-7857}},
  keywords     = {{mindreading; revised simulation theory; rationality theory; simulation; simulation theory; theory of mind; true false consensus effect; egocentric bias; quarantine failure; theory theory; false consensus effect; Goldman}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{503--514}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Synthese}},
  title        = {{Is egocentric bias evidence for simulation theory}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11229-009-9653-2}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s11229-009-9653-2}},
  volume       = {{178}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}