Individual differences explanation - Theory of mind

Question 1

Theory of mind

Answer 1

• how differences in thinking result in the characteristics we associate with autism
  
  • the social part of our brain and mind allow us to react automatically to other peoples behaviour. We do not have to think about it but we can explain what people do by taking into account what they think and what they want which is theory of mind
• in a person with ASD this is impaired

Question 2

Theory of mind explained

Answer 2

The ability to understand the world from the perspective of others, to be able to think about other peoples thoughts
- ability to understand that others hold a variety of beliefs, desires, intentions and points of views which could be different from your own
- allows people to understand other people and predict what other people are likely to do and believe

Question 3

Baron cohen

Answer 3

• argues that those with ASD do not have fully functioning Theory of mind
  
  • they have reduced or delayed ability to recognise and understand the internal mental states of other people
  • this can account for the social and communication impairments found in those with ASD

Question 4

Evidence

Answer 4

The Sally-Anne Test
Sally has. basket and Anne has a box. Sally has a marble and put it inside her basket which Anne then takes and puts in her box while sally plays outside. Sally returns and wants to play with her marble. Where will she look for her marble?
- most children by the time they are 5 can answer this question with confidence — the response from the question reflects the child’s ability to recognise that sally has a different belief from the person reading the scenario
Baron cohen et al tested 3 groups of children
1) those with ASD - 20% did this test
2) those with down syndrome (low IQ but normal social communication) - 86% did this
3) typically developing children - 85% did this

Question 5

Evaluation of Theory of mind

Answer 5

Lack of ToM has been tested over many years. One main criticism is that difficulties in ‘mentalising’ are not found in all people on the autistic spectrum — means that it is not a complete explanation for all characteristics of ASD

Scaife and Burner (1975)
- found that typically developing children can do joint attention tasks for 14 months however this is impaired or delayed in children with ASD
ToM is thought to emerge out of skills that usually appear in the first 2 years of an infants life, includes the ability to follow another persons gaze, to engage in pretend play and to imitate other peoples behaviour
- one key skill is joint attention - this is thought to be a sign if the drive to be interested in other people and is thought to be one of the first signs that children are able to ‘mentalise’

Question 6

Evidence - Klin et al (2002)

Answer 6

showed participants the film, Whos Afraid of Virginia