1. Fictional interaction
Merel Semeijn Faculty of philosophy University of Groningen

2. (Frith, 2001)
Puzzle

3. Plan of the talk Two theoretical elements MEC-account Comparison
1. Matravers
2. Embodied Cognition theory
MEC-account
Comparison
Leslie
Perner
Harris

4. Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison
Matravers
Imagination – fiction
Cognitive processes involved in engagement with narratives are neutral regarding fictionality
Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison

5. Embodied Cognition theory
Social embodied cognition
Narrative competence: folk psychological narratives
Social embodied cognition and narrative competence lie on a developmental continuum
Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison

6. Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison
M: Narrative competence is neutral regarding fictionality
EC: Social embodied cognition  narrative competence
MEC: Social embodied cognition is neutral regarding fictionality
Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison

7. Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison
Pretend play is a type of interaction
Presupposition not to believe
Representational element
Pretend play = Representational fictional interaction
Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison

8. MEC and the puzzle of pretend play
Pretend play False belief test
Social embodied cognition Narrative competence
Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison

9. Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison
Leslie
Pretend play False belief test
Metarepresentation
Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison

10. Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison
Leslie
MEC-account
Pretend play False belief test
Metarepresentation
Social embodied cognition Narrative competence
Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison

11. Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison
Perner
Pretend play False belief test
Secondary representation Metarepresentation
Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison

12. Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison
Perner
MEC-account
False belief test Embellished false belief test
Metarepresentation
Social embodied cognition Further developed narrative competence
Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison

13. Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison
Harris
Pretend play False belief test
Simulation (of beliefs) Simulation (of beliefs and intentions)
Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison

14. Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison
Harris
MEC-account
Nonverbal false belief test False belief test
Simulation (of beliefs and intentions)
Social embodied cognition Narrative competence
Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison

15. Conclusions Pretend play = fictional interaction Open questions
Pretend play requires social embodied cognition which is neutral regarding fictionality
Passing false belief tests requires narrative competence which is neutral regarding fictionality
Open questions
Empirical testing
de Villiers