Theories of ToM. Flashcards
(28 cards)
Who proposed the Modularity Theory of Mind?
Simon Baron-Cohen (1995)
What is the Modularity Theory of Mind?
It is the idea that the human brain has four built-in modules that help us understand other people’s thoughts, feelings, and intentions.
What is the Intentionality Detector (ID) in Baron-Cohen’s Modularity Theory?
The Intentionality Detector (ID) is a cognitive module that interprets actions as goal-directed, enabling individuals to perceive others as intentional agents. For example, recognising that someone reaching for a cup intends to drink.
What role does the Eye-Direction Detector (EDD) play in social cognition?
Processes eye gaze, allowing individuals to determine where others are looking and infer their focus of attention. This is crucial for understanding others’ interests and intentions.
How does the Shared Attention Mechanism (SAM) function within this framework?
Facilitates joint attention by integrating information from ID and EDD. It enables individuals to coordinate attention with others toward the same object or event, a foundational skill in social interactions.
What is the Theory of Mind Mechanism (ToMM)?
It is a cognitive module that allows individuals to attribute mental states, such as beliefs, desires, and intentions, to others.
Why is Tomm important?
It helps individuals predict the behaviour of others and underpins empathy and complex social understanding.
What do autism studies show about impairments in cognitive modules?
Autism studies show that individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often have impairments in cognitive modules, especially the Theory of Mind Mechanism (ToMM).
What social communication challenges do children with autism often experience?
Children with ASD may struggle with joint attention and interpreting eye gaze, leading to challenges in social communication.
What overall conclusion can be drawn from autism studies about modularity?
These deficits support the notion that disruptions in the modular system contribute to the social difficulties characteristic of autism.
What is the purpose of the “Reading the Mind in the Eyes” test?
The test measures the ability to interpret subtle emotional cues by looking only at a person’s eye region.
How do individuals with autism perform on the “Reading the Mind in the Eyes” test?
Often score lower on this test compared to neurotypical individuals, showing difficulty in attributing mental states.
What is Theory-Theory?
Suggests that children develop Theory of Mind by progressing through a developmental sequence.
Who proposed Theory-Theory?
Wellman (1990)
What is the developmental sequence in Theory-Theory?
Children move from understanding behaviour based on desires, to combining beliefs and desires, and finally to understanding false beliefs.
What is Desire Psychology?
It is the first stage in Tom development, where children understand that behaviour is based on desires. By around age 2, children predict actions based on desires but don’t yet consider beliefs.
What is Belief-Desire Reasoning?
Occurs around ages 3–4, when children begin to understand that both beliefs and desires together drive behaviour.
What is False Belief understanding?
It is the ability to recognise that others can hold beliefs different from reality. This typically develops around age 4, marked by passing false belief tasks like the Sally-Anne test.
What is Simulation Theory (ST)?
Suggests we understand others’ minds by simulating their mental states within ourselves, not by applying a theory.
Who developed Simulation Theory?
Robert Gordon (1986) and Paul Harris (1992).
What is the core idea of Simulation Theory?
We predict others’ thoughts and feelings by imaginatively putting ourselves in their situation and running our own mental processes “offline.”
What did Robert Gordon (1986) propose about folk psychology?
Gordon proposed that we predict others’ behaviour by pretending to be in their situation and seeing what we would think or do.
How does Simulation Theory differ from Theory-Theory?
Theory-Theory uses an internal set of rules about minds, while Simulation Theory relies on simulating others’ experiences using our own mind.
How did Paul Harris (1992) extend Simulation Theory?
Harris argued that children’s pretend play helps them simulate and understand others’ mental states.
