Selman’s Levels Of Perspective Taking

Question 1

What is meant by perspective taking?

Answer 1

The ability to understand from another’s POV and understand their thoughts and feelings.

Question 2

What is meant by social cognition?

Answer 2

The mental processes used to manage info about the self and others e.g thoughts, feelings.

Question 3

Outline Selman’s research.

Answer 3

1. 30 boys, 30 girls (between ages 4-6)
2. Children given tasks similar to ‘Holly task’ where a girl promises her father she’ll never climb trees again but needs to rescue a kitten from a tree.
3. Children required to take perspective of other.
4. Developed stages according to their answers.

Question 4

What are Selman’s 5 levels of development?

Answer 4

MUST DESCRIBE STAGES IN EXAM OR 0 MARKS

S0: Socially egocentric (3-6)
S1: Social informational role taking (6-8)
S2: Self reflective role taking (8-10)
S3: Mutual role taking (10-12)
S4: Social and conventional system role taking (12+)

Question 5

Outline the first stage of development according to Selman.

Answer 5

Stage 0: Socially egocentric (3-6)
- children can’t distinguish between their emotions and those of others.
- cannot take on perspectives of others.

Question 6

Outline the second stage of development according to Selman.

Answer 6

Stage 1: Social informational role taking (6-8)
- children can distinguish between their emotions and those of others.
- can only focus on one perspective at a time.

Question 7

Outline the third stage of development according to Selman.

Answer 7

Stage 2: Self reflective role taking (8-10)
- deeper understanding of another’s POV.
- child can fully put themselves in the position of another person but only one POV at a time.

Question 8

Outline the fourth stage of development according to Selman.

Answer 8

Stage 3: Mutual role taking (10-12)
- children can look at a situation from their own and another person’s perspective at the same time.
- can fully identify with another person.

Question 9

Outline the fifth stage of development according to Selman.

Answer 9

Stage 4: Social and conventional system role taking (12+)
- children understand that sometimes understanding other people’s POV isn’t enough to reach an agreement.
- understand that rules are needed to maintain order.

Question 10

What later developments have been added to Selman’s theory?

Answer 10

Schultz added 3 more aspects to social development:
1. Interpersonal understanding - we can understand social situations if we can understand perspectives.
2. Interpersonal negotiation strategies - understanding how to deal with conflicting POVs.
3. Awareness of personal meaning of relationships - ability to reflect on behaviour in context of specific relationships.

Question 11

What are 2 weaknesses of Selman’s theory on perspective taking?

Answer 11

1. Evidence for cultural differences.
   Wu + Keysar: Chinese children are more advanced than American children.
   Shows cultural influences may be important.
   Therefore, Selman downplayed cultural influences on development.
2. One sided approach.
   Other internal factors such as development of empathy which impact development.
   Approach isn’t holistic as explanation is too narrow.
   Therefore, reducing SC to perspective taking is reductionist.

Question 12

What is one strength of Selman’s theory?

Answer 12

1. Research support
   Selman + Gurucharri: longitudinal study shows that perspective taking develops with age in each child.
   Shows Selman original research wasn’t due to individual difference in social cognitive ability in children.
   Therefore, Selman ideas are based on solid research.