Selman - Development Of Social Cognition

Question 1

Social cognition

Answer 1

Mental processes that we use when engaged in social interactions

Question 2

Selman’s theory

Answer 2

Development of social cognition happens by passing through levels of perspective taking - moving from an egocentric perspective to an understanding that other perspectives are shaped by culture and morality

Question 3

Levels of perspective taking

Answer 3

Level 0: Egocentric (3-6 years)
• unable to take on perspectives of others

Level 1: Social Informational Role-Taking (6-8 years)
• take on one perspective at a time

Level 2: Self-reflective Role-Taking
(8-10 years)
• full appreciate/identify with one role but only one role

Level 3: Mutual/Third Party Role Taking
(10-12 years)
• simultaneously consider multiple people’s perspectives

Question 4

Evaluation

Answer 4

• SELMAN - when presented with a dilemma and asked to describe viewpoints of characters - there was a correlation between age and stage of perspective taking

• SELMAN - longitudinal study - 40/41 children in a 5 year study developed in line with the stages

• Impact for conflict resolution in schools, families

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• Selman’s theory is criticised for not including a role for understanding others emotion or feeling empathy when taking the perspective of others - entire focus of theory is on children understanding of other perspectives