Abstract

What guides ownership intuitions, thoughts of the form “this thing x belongs to person A” ? Psychologists generally assume that human minds possess an implicit ownership theory, from which ownership intuitions are derived. But this mental theory is mostly an ad hoc stipulation. A more plausible, deflationary interpretation is that ownership intuitions result from two cognitive systems, geared to managing a) competitive acquisition (Hawk-dove-bourgeois interactions) and b) mutualistic cooperation, both of which are documented in an abundant evolutionary literature. Survey studies suggest that, in agreement with a competition-cooperation perspective, levels of cooperation expectations influence ownership intuitions in everyday contexts.

Reference

Pascal Boyer (Washington University in Saint Louis), “Ownership Psychology, Its Evolutionary Background and Social Ecology”, IAST General Seminar, Toulouse: IAST, March 24, 2026, 11:30–12:30, room Auditorium 4 (First floor - TSE Building).