From reading minds to social interaction: respecifying Theory of Mind

Journal article

Childs, Carrie 2013. From reading minds to social interaction: respecifying Theory of Mind. Human Studies. 37, pp. 103-122. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10746-013-9284-y
AuthorsChilds, Carrie
Abstract

The aim of this paper is to show some of the limitations of the Theory of Mind approach to interaction compared to a conversation analytic alternative. In the former, mental state terms are examined as words that signify internal referents. This study examines children’s uses of ‘I want’ in situ. The data are taken from a corpus of family mealtimes. ‘I want’ constructions are shown to be interactionally occasioned. The analysis suggests that (a) a referential view of language does not adequately account for how mental state terms are used in talk, (b) the dominant methodology for examining children’s understanding of ‘desires’ is based on several problematic assumptions. It is concluded that participation in interaction is a social matter, a consideration that is obscured by Theory of Mind and its favoured methods.

KeywordsTheory of Mind; Discursive psychology; children
Year2013
JournalHuman Studies
Journal citation37, pp. 103-122
PublisherSpringer
ISSN0163-8548
1572-851X
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1007/s10746-013-9284-y
Web address (URL)https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10746-013-9284-y
hdl:10545/615631
Output statusPublished
Publication dates03 Aug 2013
Publication process dates
Deposited06 Jul 2016, 13:08
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ContributorsLoughborough University
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