ToM

Question 1

define the Theory of Mind (ToM)

Answer 1

describes someones ability to mentalism (trying to work out what someone is thinking)

Question 2

outline Meltzoff’s study of the internal reasoning task

Answer 2

M: 18 month olds observed adults successfully place beads into a jar (control group) or struggle (experimental)
-> children should understand adults intention of placing beads in jar
R: both conditions placed beads in jar- dropped no beads in experimental as they copied what adult intended to do
C: shows children have simple ToM

Question 3

outline Baron-Cohen’s Sally-Anne study

Answer 3

M: told story of Sally placing marble in basket and Anne moving it when Sally isn’t looking to a box- asked children where Sally would look for the marble
-> conducted on 20 ASD children and 27 non-diagnosed
R: 85% control successful, 20% ASD successful
C: ASD involved in specific ToM deficits in some cases

Question 4

outline Baron- Cohen’s eyes task

Answer 4

M: reading complex emotions through looking at pictures of eyes
R: those with AS (Asperges syndrome) and ASD struggled- problem as most non-diagnosed found difficulty

Question 5

Evaluate ToM within social cognition

Answer 5

C: lack of validity (Bloom and German): too many other cognitive abilities involved (e.g. memory), child can also have well developed ToM but still struggle with task (can take part in pretend play)
-> construct validity as it measures specific task not ToM
C: difficult to separate ToM with perspective taking: not explained in detail to separate- ToM known as unconscious skill and perspective-taking is conscious
C: no clear understanding of how ToM develops: research still on going -> no clear evidence to suggest theory is correct