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Theory of mind in nonhuman primates
1Department of Psychology, University College London, United Kingdom. c.heyes@ucl.ac.uk
The Behavioral and Brain Sciences
|March 31, 1999
Summary
Chimpanzees may not possess a "theory of mind." Existing evidence for ape mental states is weak, potentially explained by non-mentalistic processes. New experiments are needed to differentiate true understanding from associative learning.
Area of Science:
- Comparative Psychology
- Cognitive Ethology
- Primate Cognition
Background:
- The concept of "theory of mind" in chimpanzees has been debated since Premack and Woodruff's 1978 article.
- Claims of ape mental state concepts (e.g., "want," "know") lack substantial progress compared to human research.
- Existing evidence for theory of mind in nonhuman primates is re-evaluated, suggesting alternative non-mentalistic explanations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically assess the evidence for theory of mind in nonhuman primates.
- To highlight the limitations of current research and arguments supporting theory of mind in apes.
- To propose a novel experimental procedure to rigorously test for mental state concepts in chimpanzees.
Main Methods:
- Survey and critical analysis of empirical studies on imitation, self-recognition, social relationships, deception, role-taking, and perspective-taking in primates.
- Evaluation of arguments based on parsimony and convergent evidence.
- Proposal of a new experimental design using conditional discrimination training and transfer tests.
Main Results:
- Empirical evidence interpreted as theory of mind in nonhuman primates can be explained by chance or non-mentalistic processes like associative learning.
- Arguments for theory of mind based on parsimony or convergent evidence are found to be uncompelling.
- Current experimental procedures are insufficient to distinguish theory of mind from non-mentalistic alternatives.
Conclusions:
- Substantial progress in understanding primate cognition requires moving beyond current interpretations of behavior.
- Experimental paradigms must be developed to differentiate mentalistic from non-mentalistic explanations.
- A proposed conditional discrimination procedure offers a potential method to test for the concept of "see" in chimpanzees, advancing research in primate theory of mind.
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