Dissociation of Implicit and Explicit Systems of Theory of Mind: Evidence from Mandarin-English Bilinguals and Cantonese-Mandarin Diglossias

Abstract

Abstract: Theory of mind refers to the ability to understand other people's beliefs, intentions and emotions. Apperly proposed the dual-system theory that theory of mind includes two systems, the implicit and the explicit systems. The present research aimed to provide evidence for the two systems of theory of mind among subjects with different language abilities. Twenty-four mandarin monolinguals, twenty Mandarin-English bilinguals and twenty-two Cantonese-Mandarin bilinguals participated the present experiments. Combining behavioral and eye movement measures, the identity test and location test were conducted to examine the theory of mind among subjects. Results showed that Mandarin-English bilinguals and Cantonese-Mandarin bilinguals had more accurate first fixations and longer fixation times at the correct position. Participants showed significant dissociation between their implicit and explicit behaviors in the theory of mind tasks, which furtherly supports the dual-system view upon theory of mind, and helps us have a better understanding about the underlying mechanism of theory of mind.

Key words: theory of mind, implicit system, explicit system, bilingual, diglossia

摘要： 采用身份一致性实验和位置转移实验，考察普通话单语单言者、普通话–英语双语者和粤语–普通话双言者在错误信念理解中的内隐行为和外显行为，揭示双语或双言对心理理论的内隐系统与外显系统的影响。实验1表明，当情境复杂时，内隐系统在推测他人信念时容易出现错误，粤语–普通话双言者的表现好于普通话–英语双语者，普通话–英语双语者的表现好于普通话单语单言者；外显系统能够有效地解决问题，3组被试的外显反应无显著差异。实验2表明，当情境简单时，3组被试的外显行为差异不显著，但粤语–普通话双言者与普通话–英语双语者对正确位置的平均注视时间显著长于普通话单语单言者。整个研究表明，在信念推理时，内隐行为和外显行为出现了分离，证实了心理理论双系统的存在。语言能力对心理理论的内隐系统具有重要影响。

关键词: 心理理论, 内隐系统, 外显系统, 双语, 双言

CLC Number:

B842.5

WANG Ting, WANG Dan, ZHANG Jijia. Dissociation of Implicit and Explicit Systems of Theory of Mind: Evidence from Mandarin-English Bilinguals and Cantonese-Mandarin Diglossias[J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2019, 17(4): 442-451.

王婷, 王丹, 张积家. 双语与双言影响心理理论内隐系统与外显系统的分离[J]. 心理与行为研究, 2019, 17(4): 442-451.

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