Theory of Mind,Self and Free Will

8/10/2019 Theory of Mind,Self and Free Will

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Theories of mind,self and free will

SAIRAM

08011BB021

FSP(VIII SEM)


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Theory of mind

Theory of mind refers to the everyday

ability to attribute independent mental

states to self and others in order to

predict or explain behavior

These thoughts are normal for social

interaction:

Example: we make sense of peoples

behavior via belief-desire psychology


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A hand reachingfor a bottle

His intention: to drink the liquid

He believes the liquid

is poisonHe wants

to dieEtc.

He believes Juliet is

dead

What we see:

What we

understand:

For understanding other minds:

(a domain of mostly invisible entities!)

FICTION

False Beliefs


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What if we have no theory of mind?

Unable to draw meaningful psychological inferencesabout our behavior and that of others

Literal interpretation of the world

(Incorrectly) Predict that people will always behavein ways consistent with desires

Fail to understand that apersonsbeliefs affect her orher actions as well.


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Theoretical Explanations

Theory theory

Module theory

Simulation theory


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Module Theory (Leslie)

Definition:. Activation of theory of mind module leads tounderstanding of beliefs, emotions, and desires (all of these).

Support:

Learning biases children predisposed to process socialinformation

Pretenseoccurs early on

Autism neurological problem missing theory of mindmodule

Issue: If module activates beliefs, emotions, and desires, then why

is understanding of beliefs delayed? Other two acquired earlier


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Simulation Theory

Definition: Children use their awareness of their own mental states

to simulate, or infer, the mental states of others. Thus, knowledge

of self precedes knowledge of others.

Empirical support: Although this seems intuitive, researchfindings contradict, suggesting instead that knowledge of others

and self occurs concurrently (e.g., Wellman , 2001).


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Theory of mind and autism

Individuals diagnosed with autism or an autistic spectrum

disorder fail false-belief tasks

Important: If researchers can understand why there is a deficit,

this could shed light on the mechanisms and developmental

processes


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So where does the concept of belief come from?

Theory of Mind

ACTIONS

DESIRES

--- The World ---

BELIEFS

What evidence?

- certain kinds of failedprediction

- self-explanation

- How people talk

- A special neural

mechanism just for

understanding minds?


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Milligram: 15-450 volts.

How high would you go?

How many people would go to the highest level?

Predictions: only criminals and psychopaths go over 115 volts

Reality: 65% of subjects go to 450 volts

An alternative hypothesis

Theory-based errors in adults?


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What proportion of the household errands do you do?

What proportion will your partner or roommate claim that

he/she does?


0

50

100

% Positive % Negative

What people think

What their partnersexpect them tothink

Real minds: Salience

Theory of Mind: Self-

serving bias


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Do we use mirror neurons, instead of an intuitive theory,

to understand other minds?

Four arguments against:

A specific thought experiment

An argument from neuroscience

An argument from error

An argument from success


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Theory of self

The self-concept is the sum total of a persons beliefs (i.e.,

cognitions) about their own personal attributes.

These beliefs can be about affect, behaviour, (other)

cognitions, motives, etc.

Sometimes evaluations of these beliefs (i.e., self-esteem) is

considered part of the self-concept.


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Self perception theory

Self-perception theory (SPT) is an account of attitude change developed

by psychologist Daryl Bem.

It asserts that people develop their attitudes by observing their behaviour and

concluding what attitudes must have caused them.

The theory is counterintuitive in nature, as the conventional wisdom is that

attitudes come prior to behaviors.

The theory suggests that a person induces attitudes without accessing internal

cognition and mood states. The person reasons their own overt behaviors

rationally in the same way they attempt to explain othersbehaviors.


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Self determination theory

Self-determination theory (SDT) is a macro theory of human

motivation and personality, concerning people's inherent growth

tendencies and their innate psychological needs.

SDT focuses on the degree to which an individualsbehavior is self-

motivated and self-determined.

Key studies that led to emergence of SDT included research on

intrinsic motivation. behavioral regulations that were originally

external.


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Pursues behaviour for the pleasure of knowing the

pleasure of accomplishment or the pleasure of stimulation

Pursues behaviour because they symbolize what is

important to the persons sense of worth

Pursues behaviour because the outcomes are valued as

important to thepersonspersonal goals

Pursues behaviour because of an internalized Guilt related

sense of ought or should

Pursues behaviour for pay or reward or because of coercion

Doesn't pursue behaviour because success is unlikely or

im ossible-there is no oint in tr in

Model of determination theory


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Problem of Free Will:

Theories There is no Free Will

Hard Determinism

There is Free Will

Indeterminism

Traditional Compatibilism

Hierarchical Compatibilism

Libertarianism


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Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantage - a happier populace..people who are able to make their own

decisions are generally happier than those that are forced to live under

dictatorships

Disadvantage - not everybody makes the right decisions. People generally

make decisions based on the here and now - what seems best for them at

the time, usually influenced by media and peer pressure. The end result is

usually a sense of regret at not thinking through the decision properly

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Theory of Mind,Self and Free Will