Behavioral and Brain Sciences

Table of Contents - 2005 - Volume 28, Issue 05  


Open Peer Commentary

Is shared intentionality widespread among and unique to humans?

Giyoo Hatano a1 and Keiko Takahashi a2
a1 Human Development and Education Program, University of the Air, Chiba 261-8586, Japan giyoo-h@qb3.so-net.ne.jp
a2 Department of Psychology, University of the Sacred Heart, Tokyo 150-8938, Japan keiko-ta@fb3.so-net.ne.jp

Abstract

We agree that motivation to share emotions and other mental states is crucial for communicative development, but human infants are highly selective in sharing mental states, and this is well taken evolutionarily. Young chimpanzees may also have motivation to imitate mothers. Thus, uniquely human cognition and culture may not be reduced to a few basic abilities and/or inclinations.