Theory of Mind

Question 1

Theory of Mind

Answer 1

The ability to reason about others’ mental states such as how intentions, desires, beliefs, perceptions, and emotions influence behavior

Question 2

Evidence: Piaget

Answer 2

*Own action experience predicts Theory of Mind understanding
*Across cultures, children move through the same steps in understanding Theory of Mind
*Preschoolers with siblings outperform those without on Theory of Mind tasks

Question 3

Evidence: Core Knowledge Theories

Answer 3

*Specialized brain regions for processing Theory of Mind information
*Other species have some basic Theory of Mind abilities, but not as good as humans

Question 4

Evidence: Dynamic Systems Theories

Answer 4

• Own action experience predicts Theory of Mind understanding

Question 5

Evidence: Sociocultural

Answer 5

*Preschoolers with siblings outperform those without on Theory of Mind tasks
*Across cultures, the age when Theory of Mind skills develop varies

Question 6

Evidence: Information Processing

Answer 6

*More general reasoning abilities correlate with Theory of Mind task performance

Question 7

Intentions

Answer 7

*Ideas
1. Actions guided by intention
2. Inanimate objects don’t have
intention
*Mechanisms
1. Core Knowledge: innate
capacities
2. Children’s actions & intentions
are important to understand the
actions and intentions of others
*Development
1. Early abilities: slow, limited,
implicit, inconsistent
2. Intentional Reaching at 5
months (towards object not
location)
3. Rational Imitation at 1 1/2 years

Question 8

Beliefs

Answer 8

*Ideas
1. People can have different beliefs
about the same thing
2. People can have false beliefs
*Development
1. Large improvement form 3 to 5
years

Question 9

Desires

Answer 9

*Ideas
1. People can have different
desires about the same thing
2. Child’s desires can differ from
others
*Broccoli v. Goldfish Study
1. Child will give researcher broccoli if she wants broccoli, even if the child likes goldfish
2. At about 1 1/2 years old

Question 10

Dynamic Systems: Sticky Mittens Training

Answer 10

*Infants at 3 months
* Children with sticky mittens training have better understanding of intentional reaching
*Child’s motor experience informs their cognitive development of Theory of Mind