Mindreading, introspezione e metacognizione: implicazioni per la neuropsichiatria cognitiva

Abstract

Mindreading, Introspection, and Metacognition: Implications for Cognitive Neuropsychiatry - The aim of this article is to draw sharp boundaries between the concepts of mindreading, introspection and metacognition in order to rectify some common misunderstandings in the clinical literature. To this aim, we begin with identifying two main approaches in the current philosophical and psychological debate on introspection: at one end of the spectrum, the view that “introspection” is a misnomer for an interpretative activity; at the other end of the spectrum, the view that, at least in some cases, the access to one’s own inner life is direct and non-interpretative. Thereafter, we side against “direct access” theories and in favor of a particular version of the interpretativist approach to introspection. Finally, we propose some guidelines based on this approach for applying a Theory of Mind in cognitive neuropsychiatry.

Keywords

• Introspection
• Mindreading
• Confabulation
• Metacognition
• Psychopathology