Telephone number:	+31 (0)71 527 2194
E-Mail:	m.j.van.duijn@hum.leidenuniv.nl
Faculty / Department:	Faculteit der Geesteswetenschappen, Institute for Cultural Disciplines, Griekse T&C
Office Address:	Witte Singel-complex P.N. van Eyckhof 2 2311 BV Leiden Room number 1.03a
Telephone number:
E-Mail:	m.j.van.duijn.3@umail.leidenuniv.nl
Faculty / Department:
Office Address:
Personal Homepage:	www.mjvd.nl

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Fields of interest

I integrate concepts from the humanities (narratology/cognitive linguistics/philosophy of language) and from evolutionary anthropology/psychology to develop a new perspective on mind reading in contemporary humans.

Research

A central point of interest in many accounts of human evolution after the divide from the other great ape lineages about six million years ago, is the human ability to imagine, represent, and communicate mental states of fellow human subjects. Starting from a framework of 'dual inheritance', it is likely that adaptations supporting this ability can be found in both the structure of the human brain and in culturally evolved systems, which together produce the outcome we now associate with mind reading skills such as theory of mind and multiple-order intentionality (John knows that Mary knows that Bill knows [etc.] that X). It has been argued that aspects of grammar play a role in the mental processes underlying such skills. Furthermore, it can be observed that narratives, and especially literary texts of different sorts, are especially capable of representing and communicating stituations that involve multiple (embedded) perspectives and mental states. My PhD research project investigates the relationship between different forms of langauge usage, including (literary) narrative, and the way humans are able to understand, represent, and communicate other's mental states. Methods include the analysis of literary texts (especially those that have a history of reception stretching back over a long time), the study of language usage, and experiments that involve testing different groups of human subjects. Eventually, I will integrate my findings into a multi-disciplinary framework of human cognitive evolution, demonstrating that a two-way interaction between both humanists and scientists is required on this topic.

Teaching activities

Spring 2012: Analyse en Interpretatie, BA Nederlandse Taal & Cultuur

Curriculum vitae

2008-2010 MPhil in Literature, cum laude.
2007-2010 Tutorials in literature & cognitive evolution, philosophy of language, cognitive linguistics.

2002-2008 BA Nederlandse Taal & Cultuur, cum laude.
(2006-2008 intensive hospital treatment)

1996-2002 Andreas College, Katwijk aan Zee.