Abstract
Revised simulation theory (Goldman 2006) allows mental state attributions containing some or all of the attributor’s genuine, non-simulated mental states. It is thought that this gives the revised theory an empirical advantage, because unlike theory theory and rationality theory, it can explain egocentric bias (the tendency to over attribute ones’ own mental states to others). I challenge this view, arguing that theory theory and rationality theory can explain egocentricity by appealing to heuristic mindreading and the diagnosticity of attributors’ own beliefs, and that these explanations are as simple and consistent as those provided by revised simulation theory.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Camerer C., Loewenstein G., Weber M. (1989) The curse of knowledge in economic settings: An experimental analysis. Journal of Political Economy 97(5): 1232–1254
Dawes R. M. (1989) Statistical criteria for establishing a truly false consensus effect. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology 25: 1–17
Dawes R. M. (1990) The potential nonfalsity of the false consensus effect. In: Hogarth R. M. (eds) Insights in decision making: A tribute to Hillel J. Einhorn. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL, pp 179–199
Dawes R. M., Mulford M. (1996) The false consensus effect and overconfidence: Flaws in judgment or flaws in how we study judgment?. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes 65(3): 201–211
Engelmann D., Strobel M. (2000) The false consensus effect disappears if representative information and monetary incentives are given. Experimental Economics 3: 241–260
Fischhoff B. (1975) Hindsight ≠ foresight: The effect of outcome knowledge on judgment under uncertainty. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance 1: 288–299
Fischhoff B., Beyth R. (1975) “I knew it would happen”—remembered probabilities of once-future things. Organizational Behavior and Human Performance 13: 1–16
Goldman A. I. (2006) Simulating minds: The philosophy, psychology and neuroscience of mindreading. Oxford University Press, Oxford
Goldman A. I., Sebanz N. (2005) Simulation, mirroring, and a different argument from error. Trends in Cognitive Science 9(7): 320
Harman G. H. (1965) The inference to the best explanation. The Philosophical Review 74(1): 88–95
Hoch S. J. (1987) Perceived consensus and predicted accuracy: The pros and cons of projection. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 53: 221–234
Kahneman D., Slovic P., Tversky A. (Eds). (1982) Judgment under uncertainty: Heuristics and biases. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
Kahneman D., Tversky A. (1984) Choices, values and frames. American Psychologist 39: 341–350
Keysar B., Lin S., Barr D. J. (2003) Limits on theory of mind use in adults. Cognition 89: 25–41
Krauss R. M., Glucksberg S. (1969) The development of communication: Competence as a function of age. Child Development 40: 256–266
Krueger J., Clement R. W. (1994) The truly false consensus effect: An ineradicable and egocentric bias in social perception. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 67: 596–610
Kuhn T. S. (1977) The essential tension: Selected studies in scientific tradition and change. University of Chicago Press, Chicago
Newton, E. (1990). Overconfidence in the communication of intent: Heard and unheard melodies. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Stanford University.
Pronin E., Puccio C., Ross L. (2002) Understanding misunderstandings: Social psychological perspectives. In: Gilovich T., Griffin D., Kahneman D. (eds) Heuristics and biases: The psychology of intuitive judgment. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 636–665
Ross L., Greene D., House P. (1977) The ‘false consensus effect’: An egocentric bias in social perception and attribution processes. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology 13: 279–301
Saxe R. (2005) Against simulation: The argument from error. Trends in Cognitive Science 9(4): 174–179
Van Boven L., Dunning D., Loewenstein G. (2000) Egocentric empathy gaps between owners and buyers. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 79: 66–76
Van Boven L., Loewenstein G. (2003) Social projection of transient drive states. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin 29(9): 1159–1168
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wallin, A. Is egocentric bias evidence for simulation theory?. Synthese 178, 503–514 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-009-9653-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-009-9653-2