DEV Lecture 7 - Theory of Mind

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following best describes the core concept of 'Theory of Mind'?

  • The capacity to understand that others have beliefs, desires, and intentions that are different from one's own. (correct)
  • The innate knowledge of physical laws and their effect on object movement.
  • The development of language skills and vocabulary acquisition.
  • The ability to physically interact with one's environment.

Why is 'Theory of Mind' considered a 'theory'?

  • Because it is a collection of loosely related ideas.
  • Because it involves inferring and predicting someone else's mental states, which cannot be directly observed. (correct)
  • Because our understanding of it is constantly evolving.
  • Because we can directly observe another person's thoughts and feelings.

What is the primary reason that Theory of Mind (ToM) is said to have 'predictive value'?

  • It enables us to anticipate others' actions and reactions based on their presumed mental states. (correct)
  • It helps us remember past events more accurately.
  • It allows us to accurately forecast weather patterns.
  • It increases our ability to solve complex mathematical equations.

In the context of Theory of Mind, what does 'false belief' refer to?

<p>The understanding that others can hold beliefs that are different from reality or what the individual knows to be true. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the Maxi Task, a child observes Maxi putting chocolate in a blue cupboard. After Maxi leaves, his mother moves the chocolate to a green cupboard. When Maxi returns, where will children demonstrating a developed Theory of Mind expect Maxi to look for the chocolate?

<p>They will say Maxi will look in the blue cupboard because that is where Maxi falsely believes the chocolate to be. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the Sally-Anne task primarily assess?

<p>A child's understanding of false beliefs. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

If a child is shown a Smarties box and asked what is inside, they say 'Smarties'. They are then shown that the box contains pencils. When asked what another person, who has not seen inside the box, will think is inside, a child demonstrating a well-developed Theory of Mind will say:

<p>&quot;Smarties.&quot; (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do the deceptive box task and the unexpected contents task relate to Theory of Mind?

<p>They assess a child's understanding of false belief and representational change. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the concept of 'representational change' refer to within the context of the Smarties task and Theory of Mind?

<p>The understanding that one's own prior beliefs can be different from current knowledge. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The performance of children on various Theory of Mind tasks is often correlated. What does this suggest?

<p>Theory of Mind is a general cognitive ability that influences performance across different tasks. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does research on Theory of Mind development in different cultures, such as the Baka tribe, suggest?

<p>There is a universal pattern of Theory of Mind development, with key aspects emerging around similar ages across cultures. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Typical Theory of Mind tasks, such as the Sally-Anne task and the Smarties task, may not fully represent real-world social interactions because they involve:

<p>Multiple complex sentences and unfamiliar adults. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In Woodward's 1998 study, what did researchers find about infants' understanding of actions?

<p>Infants preferentially attend to aspects of an action related to the goals of the actor. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did the research on false belief in infancy, using experiments with infants as young as 15 months old, suggest about the development of Theory of Mind?

<p>Infants at this age already possess some implicit understanding of false beliefs. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Dualist theory suggests two forms of understanding. These are:

<p>Implicit and explicit. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the dualist theory of Theory of Mind development, what distinguishes implicit ToM from explicit ToM?

<p>Implicit ToM involves understanding behavior without understanding mental states, while explicit ToM involves understanding mental states. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between the 'theory theory' and the 'simulation theory' regarding Theory of Mind?

<p>The theory theory suggests that we understand others by theorizing about their mental states, while simulation theory suggests we understand others by imagining ourselves in their position. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes 'modularity theory' in the context of Theory of Mind?

<p>Theory of Mind is an innate cognitive capacity that matures over time. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key finding of Kulke's 2018 research regarding implicit Theory of Mind?

<p>Previous research on implicit Theory of Mind should be interpreted with caution due to challenges in replicating findings. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the Duplo task differ from traditional false belief tasks like the Sally-Anne or Smarties tasks?

<p>The Duplo task is interactive, non-verbal, and avoids explicit consideration of alternatives. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary argument against dualist theories of Theory of Mind development?

<p>There is no discontinuity in development; instead, a perspective-tracking system is present early but is initially fragile. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the information given, what can impact a child's performance in false belief tasks?

<p>The complexity of the task and whether it interrupts perspective-tracking. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What broad conclusion can one draw from the research on Theory of Mind?

<p>There is evidence of Theory of Mind around 4 years of age, while earlier results are mixed and complex. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why might a 3.5-year-old fail a false belief task according to Rubio-Fernandes & Geurts (2013)?

<p>Because the task interrupts their perspective-tracking. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In natural settings, how might Theory of Mind be demonstrated?

<p>By predicting someone's behavior based on their presumed mental states. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the "pull of the real" concept relate to the Duplo task?

<p>The task aims to diminish the focus on &quot;what is actually real&quot;, to diminish a focus on the current situation to allow easier consideration of alternative views. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A child is participating in Woodward's 1998 experiment. In one condition, the child repeatedly sees a hand reach for a ball. Then, the ball and a bear are placed in different locations. According to Woodward's findings, what is the child likely to do?

<p>Look longer when the hand reaches for the bear in the ball's original location. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The claim 'implicit ToM emerges before 4 years' is supported by what type of observations?

<p>Studies about looking time. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Thinking about implicit ToM, who is likely able to 'predict what someone might do, but not for example why they might look in the wrong place'?

<p>Someone with implicit ToM. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

When evaluating the resolution theories, what should be considered?

<p>That the replicability and validity of previous results should be called into question. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Theory of Mind (ToM)

The ability to attribute mental states to oneself and others.

Predictive Value of ToM

Inferring someone's preference based on their choices and predicting future behavior.

Experience and ToM

Children need exposure to experience to develop Theory of Mind.

False Belief

Understanding someone can have a different view/belief to your own.

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The Maxi Task

A test for false belief where children are told a story about Maxi and chocolate.

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Why four-year-olds struggle with the Maxi Task

Children struggle to understand that actions/beliefs can be based on incorrect knowledge.

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The Sally Anne Task

A false belief task where Sally puts a ball in her basket, but Anne moves it.

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The Smarties Task

False belief task using a candy box filled with pencils instead of candy.

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Deceptive Box Task

A common term/concept examined in false belief tasks.

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Representational Change

Understanding that initial beliefs can change with further information.

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Theory of Mind Development

Tasks that suggests how performance on tasks implies stage-like development of theory of mind.

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Infant Understanding of Goals

Infants perceive movement paths and the relation between the actor and the goal.

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False Belief in Infancy

Infants recognize that individuals can have behaviors based on their belief.

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Dualist Theory of ToM

Theory that there are two types of ToM; implicit and explicit.

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Implicit ToM

Theory that this type of ToM emerges before 4 years.

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Theory Theory

The theory that children and adults theorize mental stats.

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Simulation Theory

The theory that children put themselves in other's shoes and use their imagination.

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Continuity theory

There are implicit but fragile TOM or only one TOM.

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Continuity back to task demands

Duplo task helps children succeed in the the false belief task.

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Study Notes

Introduction to ToM

  • Theory of Mind (ToM) involves the ability to attribute mental states like desires, attitudes, and beliefs to oneself and others
  • ToM underlies the capacity to explain, predict, and interpret actions and speech by attributing mental states.
  • Understanding alternative perspectives and decentering from egocentric representations is an element of ToM, based on Piaget

Why Theory of Mind

  • Theory is used because it is not possible to directly see or measure someone else's mind
  • Theory offers predictive value; it can be used to anticipate behavior

Failures in Theory of Mind

  • Experience and exposure to the world helps develop ToM
  • Hide and seek illustrates how young children fail to appreciate others can see them even when they cover their own eyes

Theory of Mind at 4 Years

  • False belief is one aspect of ToM, understanding that others can have different views
  • Demonstrating false belief shows theory of mind

The Maxi Task

  • In the Maxi Task (Wimmer & Perner, 1983), children are told a story about a boy called Maxi using toy characters and cupboards
  • Children are asked where Maxi will look for chocolate after it has been moved without his knowledge
  • Four-year-olds tend to fail, while six and eight-year-olds pass
  • Younger children struggle to understand that Maxi's belief is different from reality

The Sally Anne Task

  • In the Sally Anne Task, Sally puts a ball in her basket and then leaves; Anne moves the ball to a box
  • Children are asked where Sally will look for the ball when she returns
  • Three-year-olds typically fail, whereas four-year-olds generally pass

The Smarties Task

  • In the Smarties Task (Perner, Leekham & Wimmer, 1987), children are shown a Smarties tube and asked what's inside
  • After finding out it contains pencils instead of sweets, they're asked what someone else will think is in the box
  • Three-year-olds will answer "pencils" while four-year-olds will answer "sweets."
  • Understanding representational change, and prior beliefs, develops at age 4

The Smarties Task: Outcomes

  • The Smarties Task is also referred to as the deceptive box task or unexpecting contents task
  • False belief is tested by asking what another person thinks is in the box, distinct from what is actually inside it
  • Children's performance across ToM tasks correlates
  • Theory of Mind also develops around 5 years in the Baka tribe in Cameroon / Congo / Gabon / CAR

Infancy: Actors Have Agency

  • Is a study that tested if infants attend to the goal of actions
  • Nine-month-olds perceive the relationship between an agent and a goal, inferring intentions, 5-month-olds do not

False Belief in Infancy

  • Determines if 15-month-old infants can understand false belief

Resolution 1: Dualist Theory

  • Implicit understanding develops before explicit understanding
  • Explicit performance emerges around age four
  • Modularity theory suggests ToM is an innate cognitive capacity

Resolution 2: Back to Continuity Theory

  • Some suggest ToM exists implicitly but is fragile
  • Some believe there to be only one ToM
  • Results from the previous studies are needing replication

Continuity: Back to Task Demands

  • Performance can be influenced by complex tasks that involve perspective-tracking

The Duplo Task

  • It simplifies the task reduces verbal responses, making it more engaging and interactive

Resolution

  • ToM enables understanding of others' thinking
  • Evidence shows solid evidence of ToM in children from age four
  • Mixed results could be due to implicit vs explict ToM
  • Mixed resutls could be due to measures used.

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