Self and Others
Psychology 410
Prof. Bertram Malle
Winter 1999
Perceiving Behavior:
Intentionality and
Intentions
(Feb 18)
Perceiving Behavior -- Major Issues
- The fundamental problem: perceive-respond-predict
- The human dimension: intentional action
- Folk concepts/theories vs. philosophical/scientific concepts and theories
- Children vs. adults
The Folk Concept of Intentionality
MALLE & KNOBE (1997)
- Agreement in judgments
- Components of the concept
- Various tests (belief + desire Ë
intention; intention vs. intentionality; intention + skill + awareness
Ë intentionality)
The Philosophical Analysis of Intentionality
MELE (1998)
- Subtle questions:
- Is desire necessary?
- Does intention require belief?
- Can there be intentionality without intention?
- How about probabilistic skill?
- What exactly does awareness mean?
- Implications for morality
The Child's Theory of Mind
WELLMAN (1993)
- Why "theory"?
- Model: beliefs + desires -> action
- Sequence: desire concept before belief concept
- Precursors: emotion, gaze, 'agency'
Lacking a Theory of Mind
SARFATI ET AL. (1997)
- The wide range of uses (self and other)
- Problems in schizophrenia
- Problems in autism
Additional Links
A web page on adults' and children's folk theory of behavior and
links to autism: click here.