Social Cognition

Question 1

What is social cognition?

Answer 1

To understand childres experiences of self and others

Question 2

Is infancy and toddlerhood a rich and formative period?

Answer 2

Plenty of research support that
- Development of perception
- Object permanence
- Distinguish voice and face of familiar and unfamiliar people
- Development of self-awareness

Question 3

How does self awareness develop in children?

Answer 3

• There is signs of self from birth
  Strong reflexes to external stimuli, contact from caregiver than their own body
• Intermodal perception
  Infants can differentiate self from objects through synchrony of different modals
• Explicit self-awareness not present
  Require more cognitive development

Question 4

How does explicit self-awareness develop in children?

Answer 4

Early childhood
- Identification, awareness of self as unique physical person
- Scale errors
Still no correct understanding of own body dimensions
- Interaction with objects and people may increase self-awareness
- Language is in important
Representation and expression of self

Question 5

Categorical self

Answer 5

Distinguish and group/classify self and others based on unique attributes
- Competencies
- Physical features

Question 6

Past & Enduring self

Answer 6

• Awareness of past self and as an enduring being over time
• Increase around 3-4 years

Question 7

What is evolving theory of mind?

Answer 7

• The understanding of ones own and other mental lives
• Awareness of ones own subjective Inner Self - Mental states

Question 8

What is crucial for evolving theory of mind?

Answer 8

Perspective taking
- Mentalize and distinguish states of mind
- Understand others emotions

Question 9

How does theory of mind develop?

Answer 9

1. Desire Theory of mind
   Simple, that people always act consistent with their desires
2. Belief-Desire Theory of Mind
   Age 4 onward
   Advanced view on the role of beliefs and desires on peoples actions - Social skills
3. Recursive Thought
   Age 6-11
   Simultaneous perspective taking of more than one people to understand a situation

Question 10

What contributes to development of theory of mind?

Answer 10

Language and verbal reasoning
-Reflection of thoughts
- Activity in left prefrontal cortex
Executive functioning
-Flexible thinking
Attachment
- Verbal interaction with parents who communicate their mental states
Make-Believe play
- Imagination and expression of thoughts and emotions
Social interaction with friends and peers at school
- Verbal interaction

Question 11

What is self-concept?

Answer 11

Set of abilities and values that define the individual
- Develops gradually with theory of mind

Question 12

How does self-concept develop?

Answer 12

Early Childhood
- Constructions based on unique attributes, abilities, attitudes and values
Middle Childhood
- Describes self with emphasis on competencies and personality attributes
Adolescence
- Wider perception
- Varies from context to context

Question 13

What is self-esteem?

Answer 13

A subjective evaluation of ones own worth and values and feelings we associate with the evaluations we make

• Crucial for self-development

Question 14

How does self-esteem develop?

Answer 14

• Signs at age 2
  Share achievements and related amotions with caregiver
• Social interactions and family context
  Comparison with peers