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SYNTHESE
2008

It's in your nature: a pluralistic folk psychology

13 years 11 months ago
It's in your nature: a pluralistic folk psychology
I suggest a pluralistic account of folk psychology according to which not all predictions or explanations rely on the attribution of mental states, and not all intentional actions are explained by mental states. This view of folk psychology is supported by research in developmental and social psychology. It is well known that people use personality traits to predict behavior. I argue that trait attribution is not shorthand for mental state attributions, since traits are not identical to beliefs or desires, and an understanding of belief or desire is not necessary for using trait attributions. In addition, we sometimes predict and explain behavior through appeal to personality traits that the target wouldn't endorse, and so could not serve as the target's reasons. I conclude by suggesting that our folk psychology includes the notion that some behavior is explained by personality traits--who the person is--rather than by beliefs and desires--what the person thinks. Consequences...
Kristin Andrews
Added 15 Dec 2010
Updated 15 Dec 2010
Type Journal
Year 2008
Where SYNTHESE
Authors Kristin Andrews
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