How the Mind Explains Behavior: Folk Explanations, Meaning, and Social Interaction (Bradford Books)

In this provocative monograph, Bertram Malle describes behavior explanations as having a dual nature -- as being both cognitive and social acts -- and proposes a comprehensive theoretical model that integrates the two aspects. When people try to understand puzzling human behavior, they construct behavior explanations, which are a fundamental tool of social cognition. But, Malle argues, behavior explanations exist not only in the mind; they are also overt verbal actions used for social purposes. When people explain their own behavior or the behavior of others, they are using the explanation to manage a social interaction -- by offering clarification, trying to save face, or casting blame. Malle's account makes clear why these two aspects of behavior explanation exist and why they are closely linked; along the way, he illustrates the astonishingly sophisticated and subtle patterns of folk behavior explanations.Malle begins by reviewing traditional attribution theories and their simplified portrayal of behavior explanation. A more realistic portrayal, he argues, must be grounded in the nature, function, and origins of the folk theory of mind -- the conceptual framework underlying people's grasp of human behavior and its connection to the mind. Malle then presents a theory of behavior explanations, focusing first on their conceptual structure and then on their psychological construction. He applies this folk-conceptual theory to a number of questions, including the communicative functions of behavior explanations, and the differences in explanations given for self and others as well as for individuals and groups. Finally, he highlights the strengths of the folk-conceptual theory of explanation over traditional attribution theory and points to future research applications. In this provocative monograph, Bertram Malle describes behavior explanations as having a dual nature -- as being both cognitive and social acts -- and proposes a comprehensive theoretical model that integrates the two aspects. When people try to understand puzzling human behavior, they construct behavior explanations, which are a fundamental tool of social cognition. But, Malle argues, behavior explanations exist not only in the mind; they are also overt verbal actions used for social purposes. When people explain their own behavior or the behavior of others, they are using the explanation to manage a social interaction -- by offering clarification, trying to save face, or casting blame. Malle's account makes clear why these two aspects of behavior explanation exist and why they are closely linked; along the way, he illustrates the astonishingly sophisticated and subtle patterns of folk behavior explanations. Malle begins by reviewing traditional attribution theories and their simplified portrayal of behavior explanation. A more realistic portrayal, he argues, must be grounded in the nature, function, and origins of the folk theory of mind -- the conceptual framework underlying people's grasp of human behavior and its connection to the mind. Malle then presents a theory of behavior explanations, focusing first on their conceptual structure and then on their psychological construction. He applies this folk-conceptual theory to a number of questions, including the communicative functions of behavior explanations, and the differences in explanations given for self and others as well as for individuals and groups. Finally, he highlights the strengths of the folk-conceptual theory of explanation over traditional attribution theory and points to future research applications. "In this provocative monograph, Bertram Malle describes behavior explanations as having a dual nature-as being both cognitive and social acts-and proposes a comprehensive theoretical model that integrates the two aspects. When people try to understand puzzling human behavior, they construct behavior explanations, which are a fundamental tool of social cognition. But, Malle argues, behavior explanations exist not only in the mind; they are also overt verbal actions used for social purposes. When people explain their own behavior or the behavior of others, they are using the explanation to manage a social interaction-by offering clarification, trying to save face, or casting blame. Malle's account makes clear why these two aspects of behavior explanation exist and why they are closely linked; along the way, he illustrates the astonishingly sophisticated and subtle patterns of folk behavior explanations." "Malle reviews traditional attribution theories and their simplified portrayal of behavior explanation and argues that a more realistic portrayal must be grounded in the nature, function, and origins of the folk theory of mind-the conceptual framework underlying people's grasp of human behavior and its connection to the mind. Malle presents a theory of behavior explanations and applies this folk-conceptual theory to a number of questions. Finally, he highlights the strengths of the folk-conceptual theory of explanation over traditional attribution theory and points to future research applications. Book jacket."--BOOK JACKET In This Monograph, Bertram Malle Describes Behavior Explanations As Having A Dual Nature - As Being Both Cognitive And Social Acts - And Proposes A Comprehensive Theoretical Model That Integrates The Two Aspects. When People Try To Understand Puzzling Human Behavior, They Construct Behavior Explanations, Which Are A Fundamental Tool Of Social Cognition. But Malle Argues, Behavior Explanations Exist Not Only In The Mind; They Are Also Overt Verbal Actions Used For Social Purposes. When People Explain Their Own Behavior Or The Behavior Of Others, They Are Using The Explanation To Manage A Social Interaction - By Offering Clarification, Trying To Save Face, Or Casting Blame. Malle's Account Makes Clear Why These Two Aspects Of Behavior Explanation Exist And Why They Are Closely Linked; Along The Way, He Illustrates The Sophisticated And Subtle Patterns Of Folk Behavior Explanations.--jacket. History : Past Research On Attribution And Behavior Explanation -- Foundation : The Folk Theory Of Mind And Behavior -- Origins : Why And When People Explain Behavior -- Conceptual Structure : A Theory Of Behavior Explanations I -- Psychological Construction : A Theory Of Behavior Explanations Ii -- Behavior Explanations In Language And Communication -- Explaining Behavior Of Self And Other -- Explaining Behavior Of Individuals And Groups -- Looking Back And Ahead. Bertram F. Malle. A Bradford Book. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [265]-305) And Index. "In this monograph, Bertram Malle describes behavior explanations as having a dual nature - as being both cognitive and social acts - and proposes a comprehensive theoretical model that integrates the two aspects. When people try to understand puzzling human behavior, they construct behavior explanations, which are a fundamental tool of social cognition. But Malle argues, behavior explanations exist not only in the mind; they are also overt verbal actions used for social purposes. When people explain their own behavior or the behavior of others, they are using the explanation to manage a social interaction - by offering clarification, trying to save face, or casting blame. Malle's account makes clear why these two aspects of behavior explanation exist and why they are closely linked; along the way, he illustrates the sophisticated and subtle patterns of folk behavior explanations."--BOOK JACKET. How the Mind Explains Behavior......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 Preface......Page 8 Introduction......Page 10 1 History: Past Research on Attribution and Behavior Explanation......Page 14 2 Foundation: The Folk Theory of Mind and Behavior......Page 38 3 Origins: Why and When People Explain Behavior......Page 72 4 Conceptual Structure: A Theory of Behavior Explanations I......Page 92 5 Psychological Construction: A Theory of Behavior Explanations II......Page 126 6 Behavior Explanations in Language and Communication......Page 156 7 Explaining Behavior of Self and Other......Page 182 8 Explaining Behavior of Individuals and Groups......Page 202 9 Looking Back and Ahead......Page 228 Appendix F.Ex: A Coding Scheme for Folk Explanations of Behavior, Version 4.2......Page 248 Notes......Page 264 References......Page 274 Index......Page 316 Every day we are faced with human behavior that is puzzling and that we would like to understand.