theory of mind

Question 1

What is Premack and Woodruff’s definition of ToM?

Answer 1

‘imputing mental states to ourselves and others including purpose, intention, knowledge, beliefs and thinking’

Question 2

What has been discovered about ToM in primates?

Answer 2

Sarah- 14 year old chimpanzee presented with a videotape of problems and solutions, was correct on 21/24 trials suggesting cognitive capacity

Question 3

What is the false belief task?

Answer 3

A way to measure ToM e.g. Sally Anne task- imputing Sally’s mental state even though we know the marble has been moved.

Question 4

What is Piaget’s theory of childhood development?

Answer 4

Four major stages:
- (1) sensorimotor intelligence (0-2 years)
- (2) preoperational thinking (2-7 years)
- (3) concrete operational thinking (7-12 years)
- (4) formal operational thinking (12+)

Question 5

What do early studies suggest about the development of ToM?

Answer 5

Perner et al. 1987- smarties tube but pencils inside. children below 4- have difficulty in accessing their mental state

Question 6

What does longitudinal data suggest about the development of ToM?

Answer 6

The number of false belief tasks passed increases gradually with age e.g. Amsterclaw and Wellman 2006. ToM seems to develop at around 3-5

Question 7

What does biological evidence suggest about the development of ToM?

Answer 7

White matter maturation is associated with the emergence of ToM in early childhood (3-4)

Question 8

What role can siblings play in the development of ToM?

Answer 8

Benefit- more opportunity to understand minds however can be a hinderance? Zajonc found that only children had higher IQs
Some research to suggest that ToM only helps w siblings if they are older

Question 9

What role can parental influence have in the development of ToM?

Answer 9

Dunn et al- observations of mothers interacting w infants at 33 months found children of parents who described mental states were more likely to pass task