According to Malle, people's explanations are rooted in their folk theory of behavior. These explanations hinge on the intentionality of the behavior and should include information about what brought about the behavior.
Intentional behavior is explained by reasons, while unintentional behavior is explained by causes.
Empirical data support this relationship between intentionality judgments and types of explanations. According to Wellman et al., domain-specific conceptual systems develop by 5 years of age. Children differentially and appropriately use biological, physical, and psychological explanations for different types of behavior. According to Kalish, children are able to distinguish between physical and psychological constraints on behavior, understanding that psychological constraints can be overcome by intentions, while physical constraints cannot. Are the different reasoning systems defined by Malle and Wellman et al.