Is implicit Theory of Mind real but hard to detect? Testing adults with different stimulus materials

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Authors

  • Louisa Kulke
  • Marieke Wübker
  • Hannes Rakoczy

Recently, Theory ofMind (ToM) research has been revolutionized bynewmethods.Eye-trackingstudiesmeasuringsubjects' looking times or anticipatory looking have suggested that implicit and automatic forms of ToM develop much earlier in ontogeny than traditionally assumed and continue to operate outside of subjects' awareness throughout the lifespan. However, the reliability of these implicit methods has recently been put into question by an increasing number of non-replications. What remains unclear from these accumulating non-replication findings, though, is whether they present true negatives (there is no robust phenomenon of automatic ToM) or false ones (automatic ToM is real but difficult to tap). In order to address these questions, the current study implemented conceptual replications of influential anticipatory looking ToM tasks with a new variation in the stimuli. In two separate preregistered studies, we used increasingly realistic stimuli and controlled for potential confounds. Even with these more realistic stimuli, previous results could not be replicated. Rather, the anticipatory looking pattern found here remained largely compatible with more parsimonious explanations. In conclusion, the reality and robustness of automatic ToM remains controversial.

Original languageEnglish
Article number190068
JournalRoyal Society Open Science
Volume6
Issue number7
Number of pages14
ISSN2054-5703
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10.07.2019

    Research areas

  • Anticipatory looking, False belief, Implicit theory of mind, Replication
  • Psychology

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