Theory of mind Flashcards
What is theory of mind?
An understanding of mental states, including desires, beliefs, intentions, and emotions
•Includes understanding of one’s own and others’ mental states
•Includes understanding the relation between mental states and behavior
How do adults use theory of mind?
We use TOM to understand how other’s beliefs and desires motivate their behavior
Why is TOM important?
Awareness of mental states is critical for understanding others’ behavior
• If you don’t understand that others have mental states that guide their behavior, it is difficult to make sense of or predict their behavior
-Social interaction is likely to be very difficult
Mental states are invisible
Can’t see someone’s beliefs or desires
When does theory of mind begin to develop?
Between 2 and 5 years of age
What happens between 2 and 3 years old related to theory of mind?
-Talk about mental states (e.g., emotions, desires)
-Come to understand that desires can influence actions
-Do not understand how beliefs can influence actions
-Treat beliefs as accurate reflections of reality
»Do not understand that beliefs are mental representations and thus may be accurate or inaccurate
What are false belief tasks?
Test a child’s understanding that another person’s behavior will be based on that person’s belief, even if the belief is inaccurate
What are the two common forms of false belief tasks?
a)Unexpected location (unexpected transfer) task
» Ex: SallyAnne Task
b)Unexpected contents task
» Ex: Crayon box with animal crackers
Unexpected contents tasks are also used to assess representational change. What is representational change?
Representational change refers to the understanding that one’s own mental states can change (e.g., a belief can change)
-Ex: Ask child what he/she thought was in the container when he/she first saw it (after showing the child that the container holds something other than what the container indicates)
Who is able to pass the false belief task and who fails it?
- Most 3 year olds fail the false belief task
a) Data suggest that when false belief tasks are modified to include deception, 3-year-olds are more likely to pass false belief tasks - Most 4 and 5 year olds are able to pass false belief tasks (regardless of type)
What factors may influence development of TOM?
- Biological factors
- Social experiences
What biological factors may influence TOM development?
-TOM as a product of evolution
•Adaptive to understand mental states such as beliefs and desires
—makes it possible to understand and predict others’ behavior
-TOM module
What is the TOM module?
Brain mechanism that makes it possible for children to acquire a theory of mind
What social experiences may influence the development of TOM?
Discussions with others about mental states •Ex: Mothers who talk more about feelings with young children have children who later show greater understanding of emotions and beliefs
