Mindshaping and mindreading: Reexamining their roles in social cognition

Engaging in folk psychology involves attributing mental states such as beliefs, desires, and intentions to others, a practice traditionally understood as mindreading. Some theorists have posited that the role of mindreading in folk psychology needs to be redefined. These theorists argue that folk psychology primarily involves mindshaping, in which behaviors and mental states are molded through social norm enforcement to promote coordination within groups. I contend that the argument for restructuring the role of mindreading in folk psychology fails. To be able to shape the mental state of an individual, one must understand first how the target’s mind works to an extent. First, I argue that the proponents of mindshaping do not have a broad understanding of what mindreading entails. Second, I argue that the reasons they give for the role of standard view of mindreading to be redefined in folk psychology do not support restructuring the conception of folk psychology. In essence, the alternative image of folk psychology presented cannot be accepted. Thus, the case for presupposition of mindshaping role over mindreading role in folk psychology remains unjustified.