✓ Selman's Levels of Perspective Taking (social cognition)

Question 1

What did Piaget investigate vs. what did Selman investigate?

Answer 1

P investigated egocentrism (physical perspective-taking)
vs.
Selman investigated social perspective-taking

Question 2

What is social perspective-taking?

Answer 2

is about understanding what someone else is thinking or feeling (social cognition)
+
Selman said social p-t & physical p-t are different & occur separately

Question 3

What was the Aim of Selman’s research?

Answer 3

S looked at changes that occurred w age in children’s responses to dilemmas

in which they were asked to take on the role of different ppl in a social situation

Question 4

What was the Procedure of Selman’s research?

Answer 4

30 boys & 30 girl (20 = 4, 20 = 5, 20 = 6)

were individually given a task measuring perspective-taking ability

asked how each person felt in various scenarios

(Holly climbing trees, father, kitten in tree)

Question 5

What were the Findings of Selman’s research?

Answer 5

5 levels of perspective-taking were identified & these corresponded with age

indicating a clear developmental sequence that is based on both maturity & experience

Question 6

How many Stages/Levels of perspective-taking did Selman identify?

Answer 6

5

Question 7

What are the 5 Levels called & what are the Ages?

Answer 7

Stage 0 (3-6 years)
= Socially egocentric

Stage 1 (6-8 years)
= Social information role-taking

Stage 2 (8-10 years)
= Self-reflective role-taking

Stage 3 (10-12 years)
= Mutual role-taking

Stage 4 (12 years +)
= Social & Conventional System role-taking

Question 8

What are the Characteristics of Stage 0?

Answer 8

• cannot distinguish between own emotions and others’
• identifies emotional states in others but can’t understand what behaviour might have caused it

Question 9

What are the Characteristics of Stage 1?

Answer 9

• child can distinguish between self & others but are largely influenced by their own perspective

Question 10

What are the Characteristics of Stage 2?

Answer 10

• child can put themselves in the position of another & understand their perspective
  (can see 1 other person’s viewpoint)

Question 11

What are the Characteristics of Stage 3?

Answer 11

• children are now able to look a situation from their own POV & someone else’s at the same time
• can step outside two-person situation & view from an impartial third party
  (can see 2+ ppl’s viewpoints as 1 idea)

Question 12

What are the Characteristics of Stage 4?

Answer 12

• personal decisions are now made w reference to wider, social conventions