Social cognition Flashcards
What did Selman study?
Social perspective taking
What is social cognition?
The way people process, remember, and use information in social contexts to explain and predict their own behaviour and that of others
What did Selman propose about the ability to take the perspective of others?
That there are 5 levels of perspective taking
What are the 5 levels of perspective taking?
- Undifferentiated perspective taking (egocentric)
- Social informational
- Self-reflective role taking
- Mutual
- Societal
At what age does the egocentric stage occur?
3-6 years old
At what age does the social informational stage occur?
6-8 years old
At what age does the self-reflective role taking occur?
8-10 years old
At what age does the mutual stage occur?
10-12 years old
At what age does the societal stage occur?
12-adult
What is the egocentric stage of perspective taking?
Children recognise that the self and others have different thoughts and feelings, but they frequently confuse the two
What would the child’s response be to Holly and the kitten at the egocentric stage?
The child predicts that Holly will save the kitten because she does not want it to get hurt and believes Holly’s father will feel just as she does about her climbing the tree
What is the social informational stage of perspective taking?
Children understand that different perspectives may result because people have access to different information
What would the child’s response be to Holly and the kitten at the social informational stage?
When asked how Holly’s father will react when he finds out that she climbed the tree, the child responds “If he didn’t know anything about the kitten, he would be angry. But if Holly shows him the kitten, he might change his mind”
What is the self-reflective role taking stage of perspective taking?
Children can ‘step into another person’s shoes’ and view their own thoughts, feelings, and behaviour from other person’s perspective. They also recognise that others can do the same
What would the child’s response be to Holly and the kitten at the self-reflective role taking stage?
When asked whether Holly thinks she will be punished, the child says, “No. Holly knows that her father will understand why she climbed the tree”. This response assumes that Holly’s point of view is influences by her father being able to ‘step into her shoes’
What is the mutual stage of perspective taking?
Children can step outside a two-person situation and imagine how the self and others are viewed from the point of view of a third, impartial party
What would the child’s response be to Holly and the kitten at the mutual stage?
When asked whether Holly should be punished, the child says “No, because Holly thought it was important to save the kitten. But she also knows that her father told her not to climb the tree. So she’d only think she shouldn’t be punished if she could get her father to understand why she had to climb the tree”. This response steps outside the immediate situation to view both Holly’s and her father’s perspectives simultaneously
What is the societal stage of perspective taking?
Individuals understand that third-party perspective-taking can be influenced by one or more systems or larger societal views
What would the individual’s response be to Holly and the kitten at the societal stage?
When asked if Holly should be punished, the individual response, “No. The value of humane treatment of animals justifies Holly’s action. Her father’s appreciation of this value will lead him not to punish her”
What do Selman’s levels of perspective-taking show?
An age-related shift from an egocentric view to a broader cultural/moral understanding which recognises other people’s points of view
