Theory of Mind Flashcards
What is theory of mind?
The human capacity to recognize that we have a mind and so do others. The ability to think about abstract concepts (specifically the ability to think about thinking)
How do children begin to think about thinking?
Start thinking, then realize we are thinking about thinking, and that other people also think, and they can think about thinking, so then we are thinking about other people thinking about thinking!
False Belief Task
Two individuals (this is sally. This is Anne. Sally has a ball, and she puts it into her basket. Sally goes for a walk, Anne takes the ball out of the basket, then puts the ball in the box. Now sally comes back, she wants to play with the ball. Where will Sally look for the ball?”
A child’s response showing theory of mind: If Sally understands other people’s thinking, she will first look in her own basket since she doesn’t know that Anne moved her ball.
Without ToM, a child will say well she would look in the box. Assumes that their knowledge is everyone’s knowledge.
ToM refers to the growing awareness that other people may not know what you know.
Appearance Reality Task
Rocks that look like sponges, “Rocks” that hide mechanical equipment, etc.
Unexpected results task
Unexpected contents task: In an empty toothpaste box, we put colored pencils inside and show the child. Once closed, ask the child “What will Mom think is in this box when she comes in here?”
Without ToM, the child will say “Mom will say it is colored pencils”
With ToM, the child will say “Mom will just see the box and she’ll think it is toothpaste!”
Developmental Sequence of TOM
First order & Second order
First order
contents of another’s mind
4 years of age
Becomes aware of variability in the thoughts of ONE other person
Second order
Beliefs or intentions (6-8yrs)
Develops understanding of other people also have awareness that yet even other people may or may not have (variability amongst a group)
Billy wants ice cream. At 4 years old, Sally is thinking about how Billy may want ice cream. At 6-8 years old, Max is thinking about how Sally is thinking about how Billy may want ice cream.
Mental state terms
Desire terms and Belief terms
Desire terms
Want, wish, etc.
Want is used EARLY in toddlerhood
State of desire terms are early developing in awareness of your own internal state that may not be the same as someone elses.
TOM starts with these terms, belief terms are formed after.
Belief terms
think, know, etc.
cognitive terms
verbs of communication and cognition overlap with syntax and set up the need for complex sentences when they create dependent clauses for complementation.
Important of Joint Attention
TOM is related to JA that develops during infancy (1st yr of life), attending to the same event (JA) is essential for the ultimate development of ToM. Shared focus is the key to understanding other’s perspective. This interaction is the foundation for uncovering the knowledge that lives inside someone else’s head.
Communication uses
Deception, humor, sarcasm
Being a mature language user rests upon your understanding of someone else’s mind (TOM acquisition)
Disorders of Communication- ToM affects what area of the big 9?
Pragmatics: conveying info among individuals- what we say to whom, when, why. This is anchored in ToM
Two disorders of communication from ToM
Autism Spectrum Disorder and Speech-Language Impairment
