Theory of mind and Verstehen (understanding) methodology.

Hist Psychiatry

Toranomon Branch Hospital, Kawasaki City, Japan

Published: September 2016

Theory of mind is a prominent, but highly controversial, field in psychology, psychiatry, and philosophy of mind. Simulation theory, theory-theory and other views have been presented in recent decades, none of which are monolithic. In this article, various views on theory of mind are reviewed, and methodological problems within each view are investigated. The relationship between simulation theory and Verstehen (understanding) methodology in traditional human sciences is an intriguing issue, although the latter is not a direct ancestor of the former. From that perspective, lessons for current clinical psychiatry are drawn.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0957154X16650791DOI Listing

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