Calmette T, Meunier H. Is self-awareness necessary to have a theory of mind?
Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024;
99:1736-1771. [PMID:
38676546 DOI:
10.1111/brv.13090]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Forty years ago, Gallup proposed that theory of mind presupposes self-awareness. Following Humphrey, his hypothesis was that individuals can infer the mental states of others thanks to the ability to monitor their own mental states in similar circumstances. Since then, advances in several disciplines, such as comparative and developmental psychology, have provided empirical evidence to test Gallup's hypothesis. Herein, we review and discuss this evidence.
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