Is implicit Theory of Mind real but hard to detect? Testing adults with different stimulus materials
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In: Royal Society Open Science, Vol. 6, No. 7, 190068, 10.07.2019.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Is implicit Theory of Mind real but hard to detect?
T2 - Testing adults with different stimulus materials
AU - Kulke, Louisa
AU - Wübker, Marieke
AU - Rakoczy, Hannes
PY - 2019/7/10
Y1 - 2019/7/10
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Anticipatory looking
KW - False belief
KW - Implicit theory of mind
KW - Replication
KW - Psychology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85070766714&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1098/rsos.190068
DO - 10.1098/rsos.190068
M3 - Journal articles
C2 - 31417713
AN - SCOPUS:85070766714
VL - 6
JO - Royal Society Open Science
JF - Royal Society Open Science
SN - 2054-5703
IS - 7
M1 - 190068
ER -