Behavioral and Brain Sciences

Table of Contents - 2010 - Volume 33, Issue 04  

Open Peer Commentary

Reasoning asymmetries do not invalidate theory-theory

Karen Bartscha1 and Tess N. Younga1

a1 Psychology Department 3415, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071-3415. bartsch@uwyo.edu tyoung14@uwyo.edu http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/psychology/displayfaculty.asp?facultyid=1285

Abstract

In this commentary we suggest that asymmetries in reasoning associated with moral judgment do not necessarily invalidate a theory-theory account of naïve psychological reasoning. The asymmetries may reflect a core knowledge assumption that human nature is prosocial, an assumption that heightens vigilance for antisocial dispositions, which in turn leads to differing assumptions about what is the presumed topic of conversation.

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