WK6: TOM theories

Question 1

Dennet (1978)

Answer 1

• beliefs predict behaviour
• young children make inferences based on knowledge

Question 2

Repacholi & Gopnik (1997):

Answer 2

18 month old = understood preferences
14 month old = didn’t

Question 3

Unexpected transfer test (Wimmer and Perner (1983):

Answer 3

• Shift in understanding others’ minds observed.
• Scenario: Child’s chocolate moved by mom.
• Questions on Maxi’s perspective and chocolate placement.
• 3-year-olds often fail false belief questions.
• Some 4-year-olds grasp false belief, indicating TOM development around age 4.

Question 4

UET Revisit (Rubio-Fernandez & Geurts, 2013

Answer 4

Issue:
- Cognitive demands limiting children’s success.

Changes Introduced:
- Protagonist turned around.
- Children enacted the search phase.

Outcome:
- Success rate increased from 22% to 80%.

Question 5

Deceptive box test

Answer 5

Assesses if individuals recognize others may have false beliefs about an object’s location, indicating a developed theory of mind.

E.G A person moves an object, and someone unaware of the switch is asked where the first person will look for it, testing understanding of false beliefs.