How Did We Learn to 'Read Minds'?

📖 LOL newsletter membership 50

Welcome to the 50th issue of the membership newsletter. You can also join the membership plan to receive weekly long-form articles. Recent content includes:

From Neurons to Neural Networks: How Psychologists Ignited the AI Revolution

How to Use Your Imagination to Achieve Anything

When a Man Starts Going Bald

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Most of us possess, to some degree, an ability akin to mind-reading. While perhaps not as fantastical as in movies, it's a skill we deploy constantly in daily life. You've likely witnessed a scene like this: an older brother dangles a candy box before his little sister, shaking it to produce that enticing rattle. "Want some?" he asks, suppressing a grin as he watches her eager anticipation. But when the box is opened, out tumble not sweets, but a handful of marbles. The prank succeeds, met with the brother's triumphant laughter.

Behind this simple mischief lies a successful prediction: the brother knew how his sister would react upon opening the box. In our own lives, we engage in similar guesswork daily – trying to gauge the boss's mood, deciphering the emotions hidden behind a partner's "I'm fine," or predicting which way that car at the intersection will turn.

This ability to understand the thoughts, feelings, and intentions of others isn't innate. It's more like an art we learn, and children, especially those mischievous little ones, often become our most revealing teachers.