Abstract:
We examined how the convergence of a configural cue (the orientation of a
configuration) with social cues (the egocentric and other-centric
perspectives) influences the dynamics of perspective selection. Listeners
received instructions (e.g., “Give me the folder on the left”) from a
simulated partner, whose depicted position around a table varied. They
selected objects from triangular configurations that were aligned with
their own perspective (ego-aligned), their partner’s perspective
(other-aligned), or neither perspective. Listeners who adopted the
partner’s perspective (other-centric responders) were influenced more by
the configural cue than egocentric responders, making faster mouse
trajectories with fewer directional shifts on other-aligned (vs.
ego-aligned) configurations and more deviated trajectories on
neither-aligned configurations. Although other-centric responding incurs a
cognitive cost—indicated by overall slower and more complex trajectories
than egocentric responding—it enhances sensitivity to configural cues that
potentially facilitate perspective-taking. Such configural cues can be
ignored when responding egocentrically, along with social cues.