Theory of Mind

Question 1

Social Cognition

Answer 1

= mental processes you need to socialise

ToM = theory you come up with about someones thoughts/feelings
^ mentalising

. Happens in the brain - ability to see mental state of others
. Can use neuroimaging to see parts of brain used in ToM

Question 2

Autism

Answer 2

2 ideas: neurodiversity and medical model

ASD = differences in:
sensory = noises and lights
behaviour = stimming - repetitive
communication

Savant (10%) = given special ability

Question 3

Intentional Reasoning in Toddlers

Answer 3

Meltzoff = 18 month olds observed beads in a jar
. Experimental condition = adults appearing to struggle - dropped beads
. Control condition = adults placed beads successfully
^ so did toddlers - suggests imitating what adults intended to do
. Shows very young children have ToM

Question 4

False Belief Tasks

Answer 4

. Test whether kids can understand that people can believe lies
. First task developed by Wimmer and Perner:
- Told 3-4yr olds Maxi left choc in blue cupboard and left room
- Maxi’s mom used some and put back in green cupboard
^ children asked where Maxi would look
- 3 year olds = green
- 4 year olds = blue - suggests ToM shifts around age of 4

Question 5

Sally - Anne Studies
(Baron - Cohen)

Answer 5

. 20 high functioning kids diagnosed with ASD and control groups of 27 kids with a diagnosis and 14 with down syndrome

Findings = 85% in control group correctly identified where she’d look for ball
^ Only 4% with ASD
. ToM deficit - dramatic difference

Question 6

Testing Older Children and Adults
(Aspergers Syndrome)

Answer 6

Aspergers syndrome - problems with empathy, social communication
^ easily succeed with false belief task

Question 7

Baron Cohen Eyes Task

Answer 7

. Reading complex emotions in pics of faces just showing small area around eyes
. Found adults with AS and high - functioning ASD struggled with eye task
^ supports idea ToM deficits might be cause of ASD

Question 8

Evaluation (Limitations)

Answer 8

. Low validity of false belief task
^ requires other cognitive abilities
. Hard to distinguish ToM and perspective taking
. No clear understanding of how ToM develops
. Critique of eyes task
^ low ecological ability