Introduction To Social Cognition

Question 1

Perspective taking

Answer 1

Our ability to appreciate a social situation from the point of view of other people. This cognitive ability
underlies much of our social interaction.

Question 2

Socially egocentric

Answer 2

The child cannot reliably distinguish between
their own emotions and those of others. They can generally identify emotional states in others but do not understand what social behaviour might have caused them.

Question 3

Social information and role taking

Answer 3

The child can tell the difference between their own point of view and that of another, but they can usually focus on only one of these perspectives.

Question 4

Interpersonal understanding

Answer 4

If we can take different roles, then this shows we can understand social situations.

Question 5

Interpersonal negotiation strategies

Answer 5

As well as understanding what others think in social situations, we also must develop skills in how to respond to them.We develop social skills such as asserting our position and managing conflict.

Question 6

Awareness of personal meaning of relationships

Answer 6

As well as understanding
what others think in social situations and how
to manage them, social development also requires the ability to reflect on social behaviour in the context of life history and the full range of relationships.
For example, a child may adapt their response to another child based on previous experience with
them.

Question 7

Theory of mind

Answer 7

Our personal understanding (a theory) of what other people are thinking and feeling. It is sometimes called “mind reading”