Against Theory of Mind

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.

IVAN LEUDAR is Professor of Analytical and Historical Psychology in the School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Manchester, UK. His published books include Voices of Reason, Voices of Insanity and Conversation Analysis and Psychotherapy.

ALAN COSTALL is Professor of Theoretical Psychology at the University of Portsmouth, UK. His work critically explores the implications of an "ecological approach" to the human sciences. He has edited and translated G.H Luquet's classic text on Children's Drawings and has co-edited Doing Things with Things: The Design and Use of Everyday Objects.

Introduction: Against 'Theory of Mind'; I.Leudar & A.Costall
PART I: THEORY AND HISTORY
On Historical Antecedents of 'Theory of Mind'; I.Leudar & A.Costall
Theory of Mind: The Madness Behind the Method; A.Costall & I.Leudar
'ToM': A Critical Commentary Continued; W.Sharrock & J.Coulter
PART II: APPLICATIONS
Participants Don't Need Theories: Knowing Minds in Engagement; V.Reddy & P.Morris
Specifying Interactional Markers of Schizophrenia in Clinical Consultations; R.McCabe
The Roots of Mindblindness; S.Shanker & J.Stieben
Who Really Needs a 'Theory' of Mind?; E.Williams
Do Animals Need a Theory of Mind?; M.Bavidge & I.Ground
PART III: ALTERNATIVES
Closet Cartesianism in Discursive Psychology; W.Sharrock
A Dialogical Approach in Psychology: An Alternative to the Dualism of ToM; I.Markova
Conclusion: ToM Rules, But it is Not OK!; D.D.Hutto