Theory of mind Flashcards
What is the definition of mentalization?
Also called theory of mind
Interpretation of ones own and others behaviour as a result of mental states, such as wishes, feelings and opinions.
What are Flavells two levels of visual perceptive knowledge?
Level 1: Understanding that other people look at the world around them
Level 2: An understanding what other people are seeing (from another angle or something they can/cannot see).
-> Same ability as level 1 but with the knowledge, that things can look different from different angles
What is the three mountain problem?
Which developmental stage does it show?
Here children were shown a model of a mountain constellation and then put on one side. Then they were asked what does a doll from this angle see?
Kids under 7 had difficulties with this, because they still think egocentric
Children over 6 showed an awareness of different perspectives, but had issues.
Children who do not pass this test, are in the preoperational stage
Children who pass this test are in the concrete operational stage
This was an experiment by Piaget
What are citicisms to the three mountain problem?
The problem is seen as too difficult and complex. Children have no experience with mountains
In the two dolls study children down to the age of 4 years were able to do the task!
When the children got more visual cues (such as stickers on each sides of the mountains they were able to pass this test
=> This remings me of another thing with orentation or something, but I forgot what it was?
When does a change in the visual perspective taking occur?
Around 2 years of age.
Children are able to place object in a way that another person can see them, even if they cannot
Around 3 years of age they can also place them in positions where the other person cannot see them. This was not possible for children under 3
Why do toddlers talk so weird?
And what do the two main dudes say about it?
(and what are their evidences?)
Piaget: They are egocentric and cannot take the perspective of others.
-> Collective monologues
This changes because they learn to consider others and develop the cognitive abilities for that
Evidence: Young children explain the rules of a game to blind people the same as to not blind people. (8th graders could do this, 2nd graders not)
Vigotsky: They talk not to communicate, but to solve problems, plan and regulate their actions.
-> No communication intention = not egocentric!
This changes, because toddlers have to internalize language as a tool for thinking from their social surroundings.
Evidence: Young children do talk with themselves (Private speech/private signing)
-> As a tool for selfregulation
When do children understand that others have desires?
18 months
They also understand that they are different from their own ones.
When do children understand that the goal of an action and the action itsself are not the same?
3 year olds do not pass this
4 year olds do understand this.
Example: One ends up in a place, even though they did not want to end up ther
What are the main tests used to test for mentalization/theory of mind?
False-belief tasks like:
Unexptected transfer task
Unexpected contents
What is a False-belief task?
What are examples of this?
When do children usually pass this task?
A scenario where someone holds a belief that is contrary to reality, and the participant is asked to predict the person’s behavior based on that false belief.
Unexpected contents task:
A box of, crayons is labeled “Smarties.” When asked what the child think is inside, they are likely to say smarties based on the label. However, upon opening the box, it is revealed to contain unexpected contents, like pencils. This task assesses the child’s ability to reconcile their initial belief with new, conflicting information.
Unexpected transfer task:
A boy who leaves chocolate on a shelf and then leaves the room. His mother puts it in the fridge. To pass the task, the child must understand that the boy, upon returning, holds the false belief that his chocolate is still on the shelf.
Children on average pass this task around the age of 4 years
(3-5 years)
What are criticisms to the False-belief task?
It is rather an issue communication/not understanding the question. When asked: “Where does the person look first?
More young kids passed. Because the first makes them aware of multiple possibilities.
What is the Unexpected contents task?
When do children usually pass this test?
Here one tests the childs understanding that they themselves have made a mistake.
experimenters ask children what they believe to be the contents of a box that looks as though it holds Smarties. After the child guesses “Smarties”, it is shown that the box in fact contained pencils. The experimenter then re-closes the box and asks the child what she thinks another person, who has not been shown the true contents of the box, will think is inside. The child passes the task if he/she responds that another person will think that “Smarties” exist in the box, but fails the task if she responds that another person will think that the box contains pencils.
Children usually pass this test around an age of 4 years
What are citicism to the unexpected content task?
When asked: “What did you think was in the box?” Children understand: “What was in the box?”
When first smarties are in the box and the child sees them being exchanged younger children still answer right
(because there was smarties in it and they saw it!)
->True belief task!
The results of the unexpected content task could be part of which phenomenon?
Childhood amnesia, because one does not remember or store everything that one does! That would be counterproductive.
What are experiments showing implicit mentalization?
Implicit = without language/not directly expressed
2 year olds watched a woman putting a ball into a basket, which was moved without her noticing. They then focused (eye tracking+brain scanning) on the basket of where the ball should have been.
Similar studies have shown this with 6 month olds!
This shows that they maybe understand, but cannot verbalize it
There are many studies which show such things.
BUT: Difficulties with replication and interpretation (generalization…)
VERY CONTROVERSAL
