No Time,No Problem

Abstract

We describe an experiment that examined mental state attributions as a function of manipulated response speed. Based upon dual-process theories of cognition, the purpose was to examine the degree to which rapid versus reflective judgment might alter these attributions. Participants were presented with a theory of mind task and instructed to either respond as quickly as possible or to reflect on the stimuli before answering. Although, instructions did produce significantly different response times, there were no significant differences in the attributions made by participants. These results are interpreted as supporting a view of social cognition positing that people immediately interpret perceived social cues in the environment to produce social signals that inform the attributions made of another’s mental state. We discuss this in the context of socio-cognitive theories and their relevance to interdisciplinary approaches to understand and improve human-machine interactions and the development of social intelligence in machines.