Theories of Theory of Mind

Question 1

Perner (1991)

Answer 1

Theory Theory 
There are 3 stages to ToM development 
1 = Single Updating Model (4-18 months)
2 = Multiple Models (18-36 months)
3 = Meta Representation (3+ years)

Question 2

Harris (1992)

Answer 2

Children have default settings for the beliefs of others based on their own current beliefs
These beliefs can change and we understand this as we get older
The more experience we have, the better our predictions of others will be

Question 3

Leslie (1987)

Answer 3

ToM is a pre-wired module that comes online at 18 months and this module is dependent on the executive function module

Question 4

Adams (2013)

Answer 4

ToM deficit in autism is best explained by higher level domain specific ToM module 
Autism is a spectrum disorder, not on a continuum but a conglamoration of different symptoms and defecits 
As all of these defecits can occur in isolation, it is possible that ToM can occur in isolation (although no such individual has been found yet) 
ToM is therefore a domain specific cognitive module

Question 5

Perner and Kuberger (2006)

Answer 5

It’s hard to compare across different theories because they all rely on different outcomes of the same type of task (FBT)

Question 6

Nichols and Stich (2003)

Answer 6

Full ToM ability likely relies on all 3
Theory Theory for predicting difference in behaviour
Simulation Theory for predecting specific details about behaviour (E.G. Emotions)
Moduler Theory for explaining why ToM has cross-cultural universality and genetic influences

Question 7

Denny et al (2012)

Answer 7

There are particular spatial foci which activate in the brain when people complete ToM tasks

Question 8

Saxe and Powell (2006)

Answer 8

Theres a neural bases pf false belief reasoning

Question 9

Schurz et al (2014)

Answer 9

Meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies found an overlap of activity in the mPFC and the TPJ during during ToM tasks

Question 10

Schaafsma et al (2015)

Answer 10

Meta-analyses in neuroimaging and ToM are too underpowered to explore task-specific activations because of the high heterogeneity in the methods used to investigate the neural correlated of ToM
ToM is not a single cognitive ability and therefore needs to be deconstructed before it is experimented on