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The Effect of Social Presence on Mentalizing Behavior
Emma J Morgan1, Daniel J Carroll1, Constance K C Chow1
1Department of Psychology, The University of Sheffield.
Social presence significantly impacts adult mentalizing behavior. Research in social cognition should incorporate real people to better understand these effects.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Social Neuroscience
Background:
- Social cognition research often lacks a 'social presence,' isolating participants from real people.
- Understanding social influence on behavior is crucial for accurate cognitive studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of social presence on adult mentalizing behavior.
- To compare mentalizing performance with and without the presence of live individuals.
Main Methods:
- Two studies utilized first-order and second-order theory of mind tasks.
- Participants completed tasks with either live actors or recorded performances.
Main Results:
- Social presence significantly altered participants' behavior in both theory of mind tasks.
- Behavioral patterns differed notably when individuals were physically present.
Conclusions:
- Social presence is a critical factor in mentalizing research.
- Future social cognition studies should prioritize the inclusion of social presence.
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