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Spatial perspective taking is distinct from cognitive and affective perspective taking.

Maria Brucato et al.

Journal of Experimental Psychology: general2026https://doi.org/10.1037/xge0001892article
AJG 4ABDC A*
Weight
0.50

Abstract

Perspective taking (PT) is the ability to imagine viewpoints different from our own. However, the nature of PT as a construct and its underlying cognitive mechanisms are not well established. Some researchers propose that understanding what others believe (cognitive PT), feel (affective PT), and see (spatial PT) forms a single behavioral dimension, relying on the orienting of attention between competing frame-of-reference representations. Others propose that PT mechanisms are dissociable, although there are three different proposals about such dissociations. The present study examined behavioral associations among measures of spatial, cognitive, and affective PT and attentional control in neurotypical young adults. There was a lack of convergent validity for measures of cognitive and affective PT, pointing to the need for more psychometric work on these dimensions. Much better convergence was found for spatial PT measures. There was little to no behavioral association between spatial PT and either social form of PT (cognitive or affective) or attentional control measures. This pattern suggests support for a dissociated model in which spatial PT is a distinct cognitive construct. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1037/xge0001892

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@article{maria2026,
  title        = {{Spatial perspective taking is distinct from cognitive and affective perspective taking.}},
  author       = {Maria Brucato et al.},
  journal      = {Journal of Experimental Psychology: general},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1037/xge0001892},
}

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Evidence weight

0.50

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20
M · momentum0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

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