Introduction To Social Cognition

Question 1

Perspective taking

Answer 1

Our ability to appreciate a social situation from the pov of other people. This cognitive ability underlies much of our social interaction.

Question 2

Socially egocentric

Answer 2

The child can’t reliably distinguish between their own emotions and those of others. They can generally identify emotional states in others but don’t understand what social behaviour might have caused them.

Question 3

Social information and role taking

Answer 3

The child can tell the difference between their pov and that of another but they can usually focus on only one of these perspectives.

Question 4

Interpersonal understanding

Answer 4

If we can take different roles then this shows we can understand social situations

Question 5

Interpersonal negotiation strategies

Answer 5

As well as understanding what others think in social situations we also must develop skills in how to respond to them. We develop social skills such as asserting our position and managing conflict.

Question 6

Awareness of personal meaning of relationships

Answer 6

As well as understanding what others think in social situations and how to manage them, social development also requires the ability to reflect on social behaviour in the context of life history and the full range of relationships. For example, a child may adapt their response to another child based on previous experience with them.

Question 7

Theory of mind

Answer 7

Our personal understanding of what other people are thinking and feeling. It’s sometimes called ‘mind-reading’