Shared reality: Construct and mechanisms.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Editorial and conceptual overview with no original empirical data (by design analogy, not clinical CEBM)
PubMed 30274869 · doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2018.09.003
What was done
This editorial introduces a special issue by defining the theoretical construct of shared reality and outlining its proposed underlying mechanisms. No empirical methodology or experimental design is described in the abstract.
What was found
The abstract reports conceptual definitions rather than empirical or quantitative findings (no numbers are reported). It defines shared reality as the experience of sharing inner states—including feelings, beliefs, evaluations, and perceived relevance—about the world with others. This shared experience is described as fostering the perceived truth of those inner states and fulfilling fundamental human motivations for valid beliefs and social connection.
Why it matters
It provides a theoretical framework defining how interpersonal alignment of internal states validates subjective beliefs and fulfills core human epistemic and relational drives.
Limits
This is a theoretical editorial containing no primary empirical data, sample size, or experimental testing. The abstract provides no quantitative measures or direct evaluations of the proposed mechanisms.
Cited by
- supports Experiencing shared reality during communication enhances the perceived truth value of the interaction.