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The 'theory of mind' framework has been the fastest growing body of empirical research in contemporary psychology. It has given rise to a range of positions on what it takes to relate to others as intentional beings. This book brings together disparate strands of ToM research, lays out historical roots of the idea and indicates better alternatives
About the Book
The 'theory of mind' framework has been the fastest growing body of empirical research in contemporary psychology; it has given rise to a range of positions on what it takes to relate to others as intentional beings. Yet the approach has avoided any sustained engagement with alternative explanations of social action and experience, such as socio-cultural psychology, dialogical psychology, discursive psychology, narrative psychology or ethnomethodology.This volumebrings together disparate strands oftheory of mindresearch and mercilessly documents conceptual errors on which the approach is based and pseudo problems which it tries to answer. The book lays out the historical roots of thetheory of mindidea and indicates better alternatives, such as ecologically informed narrative psychology."
Review Quotes
1. 'Against Theory of Mind is an essential remedy to the unquestioning approach of most books in the literature and as such is an essential read both for those who have maintained suspicion of the ToM literature over the years and for those who desire a heretic against which to test their faith...The arguments made have important implications for many areas of psychological research.' - Eric P. Charles, Contemporary Psychology (American Psychological Association) 'This book is worth paying attention to...It goes against mainstream contemporary philosophy of mind and psychology... and sheds light on hidden assumptions almost universally accepted by ToM, showing that these assumptions are not adequately reflected...[T]he manner in which they handle the seemingly unshakeable pillars on which ToM stands, seems to be admirable.' - Czech Sociological Review
2.
'Against Theory of Mind is an essential remedy to the unquestioning approach of most books in the literature and as such is an essential read both for those who have maintained suspicion of the ToM literature over the years and for those who desire a heretic against which to test their faith...The arguments made have important implications for many areas of psychological research.' - Eric P. Charles, Contemporary Psychology (American Psychological Association)
'This book is worth paying attention to...It goes against mainstream contemporary philosophy of mind and psychology... and sheds light on hidden assumptions almost universally accepted by ToM, showing that these assumptions are not adequately reflected...[T]he manner in which they handle the seemingly unshakeable pillars on which ToM stands, seems to be admirable.' - Czech Sociological Review
3.
'Against Theory of Mind is an essential remedy to the unquestioning approach of most books in the literature and as such is an essential read both for those who have maintained suspicion of the ToM literature over the years and for those who desire a heretic against which to test their faith...The arguments made have important implications for many areas of psychological research.' - Eric P. Charles, Contemporary Psychology (American Psychological Association)
'This book is worth paying attention to...It goes against mainstream contemporary philosophy of mind and psychology... and sheds light on hidden assumptions almost universally accepted by ToM, showing that these assumptions are not adequately reflected...[T]he manner in which they handle the seemingly unshakeable pillars on which ToM stands, seems to be admirable.' - Czech Sociological Review
