L'evoluzione della Teoria della Mente

Grazia Attili

Abstract


Riassunto: In questo lavoro vengono individuate le pressioni specifiche che hanno portato all’emergere nei primati umani di una teoria della mente. Se ne prendono in considerazione la funzione biologica e la filogenesi e si discutono le ragioni per le quali la nostra intelligenza si configura eminentemente come sociale. La mentalizzazione era funzionale alla replicazione genica attraverso tutti i molteplici sistemi che regolano la nostra vita, quello competitivo, cooperativo, sessuale, quello legato all’accudimento e protezione della prole e si argomenta a favore dell’ipotesi che essa si sia evoluta essenzialmente in quanto necessaria ad un sensitive caregiving da parte delle madri. Anche gli altri primati hanno una teoria della mente; la risoluzione dei compiti di falsa credenza, che emerge al meglio nell’imbroglio tattico, è presente perfino in animali “non sociali”; e anche nelle altre specie la sua evoluzione è legata alle situazioni per le quali si é rivelata adattativa, le quali sono tuttavia poche e non così complesse come quelle che massimizzano il successo riproduttivo dei primati umani.

Parole chiave: Teoria della mente; Funzione biologica; Filogenesi; Primati umani e non-umani; Imbroglio tattico.

 

Evolution of Theory of Mind

Abstract: In this paper I outline the specific selective pressures which led to the evolution of a Theory of Mind in humans. I also discuss the biological function and phylogeny of human intellect and the functional reasons for the development of social intelligence in human primates. The capacity for mentalization provided support for all the systems (cooperative, competitive, sexual, parental) that made survival and reproductive success possible. Nevertheless, I argue in favor of the hypothesis that theory of mind evolved mainly because it promoted sensitive caregiving by mothers. Theory of mind is present in non-human primates and other species as well and it is well expressed, for example, in tactical deception. Furthermore, even in other species it evolved because it contributed to reproductive success. Nevertheless, for other animals there are only limited situations where Theory of Mind proves adaptive and these situations are not as complex as those situations which maximize humans’ inclusive fitness.

Keywords: Theory of Mind; Biological Function; Phylogeny; Human and Non-human Primates; Tactical Deception


Parole chiave


Teoria della mente; Funzione biologica; Filogenesi; Primati umani e non-umani; Imbroglio tattico.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.4453/rifp.2015.0020

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