creators_name: Suddendorf, Thomas
type: journalp
datestamp: 2002-11-19
lastmod: 2011-03-11 08:55:06
metadata_visibility: show
title: Simpler for evolution: Secondary representation in apes, children, and ancestors
ispublished: pub
subjects: dev-psy
subjects: bio-etho
subjects: bio-primat
subjects: phil-mind
subjects: evol-psy
subjects: bio-ani-behav
subjects: bio-ani-cog
subjects: phil-lang
subjects: cog-psy
subjects: comp-psy
full_text_status: public
note: Commenatry on C.M. Heyes' target article: Theory of mind in nonhuman primates. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 21, 131.
abstract: Great apes show behavioural evidence for secondary representation similar to that of children of about two years of age. However, there is no convincing evidence for metarepresentation in apes. A good evolutionary interpretation should be parsimonious and must bring developmental and comparative data in accord. I propose a model based on the work of Perner (1991) and close by pointing out a logical flaw in Heyes’ second proposed experiment.


date: 1998
date_type: published
publication: Behavioral and Brain Sciences
volume: 21
pagerange: 131
refereed: TRUE
referencetext: Asendorpf, J.B., Warkentin, V., & Baudonniere, P.M. (1996). Self-awareness and other-awareness II: Mirror self-recognition, social contingency awareness, and synchronic imitation. Developmental Psychology, 32, 313-321.
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Köhler, W. (1927). The mentality of apes (E. Winter, Trans.). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul (Original work published 1917).
Perner, J. (1991). Understanding the representational mind. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Perner, J., & Ruffman, T. (1995). Episodic memory and autogenetic consciousness: Developmental evidence and a theory of childhood amnesia. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 59, 516-548.
Suddendorf, T. (in press). The rise of the metamind. In M.C. Corballis & S. Lea (Eds.), Evolution of the hominid mind. London: Oxford University Press.
Suddendorf, T., & Corballis, M.C. (1997). Mental time travel and the evolution of the human mind. Genetic, Social and General Psychology Monographs, 123, 133-167.
Suddendorf, T., & Fletcher-Flinn, C.M. (1997). Theory of mind and the origins of divergent thinking. Journal of Creative Behavior, 31, 169-179.
Suddendorf, T., Fletcher-Flinn, C.M., & Johnston, L. (1997). Pantomime and theory of mind. Manuscript submitted for publication.
Wimmer, H., & Perner, J. (1983). Beliefs about beliefs: Representation and constraining function of wrong beliefs in young children’s understanding of deception. Cognition, 13, 103-128.

citation:   Suddendorf, Thomas  (1998) Simpler for evolution: Secondary representation in apes, children, and ancestors.  [Journal (Paginated)]     
document_url: http://cogprints.org/2614/1/bbs.pdf