Open AccessWhat Can We Learn by Treating Perspective Taking as Problem Solving?
Author(s) -
Tokiko Taylor,
Timothy L. Edwards
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
perspectives on behavior science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 2520-8977
pISSN - 2520-8969
DOI - 10.1007/s40614-021-00307-w
Subject(s) - perspective (graphical) , relational frame theory , framing (construction) , frame problem , class (philosophy) , variety (cybernetics) , computer science , cognitive science , epistemology , management science , psychology , cognitive psychology , artificial intelligence , philosophy , structural engineering , engineering , economics
Perspective taking has been studied extensively using a wide variety of experimental tasks. The theoretical constructs that are used to develop these tasks and interpret the results obtained from them, most notably theory of mind (ToM), have conceptual shortcomings from a behavior-analytic perspective. The behavioral approach to conceptualizing and studying this class of behavior is parsimonious and pragmatic, but the body of relevant research is currently small. The prominent relational frame theory (RFT) approach to derived perspective taking asserts that "deictic framing" is a core component of this class of behavior, but this proposal also appears to be conceptually problematic. We suggest that in many cases perspective taking is problem solving; when successful, both classes of behavior involve the emission of context-appropriate precurrent behavior that facilitates the appropriate response (i.e., the "solution"). Conceptualizing perspective taking in this way appears to have many advantages, which we explore herein.