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Theory of mind has become the name of the research area that investigates our “folk psychological concepts” for imputing mental states to others and ourselves: what we know, think, want, feel, etc. Interpreting other people’s actions and intentions involves a mutual ascription of contentful mental states such that the understanding of the social world around us becomes coherent and intelligible. Our everyday understanding of others, our folk psychology, is our most fundamental resource for introducing meanings in a world of causes. In the field of psychology, Sigmund Freud, B. F. Skinner, and Carl Rogers, developed three independent theories of mind which actually constitute three different psychologies, continue to be the foundations on which all modern psychological theories are built. In taking a comparative approach, we can find some common themes and important points of divergence. Each took as his aim a greater understanding of human nature, although each adopted a distinct perspective on personality. Freud's psychoanalytic view of human nature is rather pessimistic. Driven by primitive urges, humans are little more than controlled savages seeking to satisfy sexual and aggressive pleasures. The internal conflicts between id, ego, and superego only serve to exacerbate the turmoil at the root of personality. This dark view is in sharp contrast to Rogers' humanism, which starts from the perspective that humans are basically good and continually striving to be even better. Motivations for growth, creativity, and fulfilment pepper Rogers' optimistic stance on human nature. With Freud pessimistic and Rogers optimistic, Skinner is left somewhat neutral on human nature. True to his behaviourist approach, Skinner would have difficulty supporting notions of either internal turmoil or internal motives for fulfilment. Although Skinner acknowledged that genetic factors were important in determining which behaviours were emitted (and eventually reinforced), he saw