# Barbara

/ˈbɑɹbɝə/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/barbara
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a name for a specific logical problem where you have to guess what someone else is thinking. It is often used to test how people or computers understand that others have different beliefs.

For teachers: a specific logical or cognitive puzzle used to evaluate theory of mind, typically involving a character who holds a false belief about the location of an object. Often used in developmental psychology and artificial intelligence research to assess the ability to attribute mental states to others.

## Examples

- The researcher used the Barbara task to test the child's social understanding.
- In the classic Barbara logic puzzle, the subject must determine where a character will look for an item that was moved without their knowledge.
- While the Barbara test is a standard measure of cognitive development, critics argue that it may conflate linguistic processing speed with the actual capacity for recursive mental state attribution.

## Usage notes

- When used in the context of logic or psychology, it typically functions as a proper noun or a modifier for 'task', 'test', or 'problem'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.