Theory of Mind Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is social cognition?

Thinking about the thoughts, feelings, motives, and behavior of self and others. (correct)

Communicating effectively in groups.

Thinking about one's own emotions.

Understanding social norms.

What is the theory of mind?

The understanding that people have mental states, such as feelings, desires, beliefs, and intentions, that explain their behavior.

What is a false belief task?

A research paradigm used to assess an important aspect of theory of mind, mainly the understanding that people can hold incorrect beliefs.

At what age do children typically pass the false belief task?

4 years Signup and view all the answers

What disorder do children often have difficulty with regarding theory of mind?

Autism Signup and view all the answers

What are some precursors and contributors to theory of mind?

Joint attention, understanding intentions, pretend play, imitation, and emotional understanding. Signup and view all the answers

What are mirror neurons?

Neural cells activated when we perform an action or observe someone else doing it. Signup and view all the answers

What are the benefits of having a theory of mind?

Being able to see meaning in the behavior and actions of others, which creates order in life. Signup and view all the answers

What is desire psychology?

The earliest theory of mind that understands that desires guide behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What does belief-desire psychology reflect?

An understanding that people's desires and beliefs guide their behavior. Signup and view all the answers

How does theory of mind relate to popularity?

Popular kids have greater emotional intelligence and fluency in sarcasm via theory of mind. Signup and view all the answers

What can parents do to promote a theory of mind?

Use books to discuss characters' thoughts and feelings and use words that refer to thinking and feeling. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Involves thinking about one’s own thoughts, feelings, motives, and behaviors as well as those of others.

Theory of Mind

Refers to the ability to understand that others have individual mental states, such as feelings, desires, beliefs, and intentions, which help explain their behaviors.

False Belief Task

A research approach used to gauge the understanding that others can hold incorrect beliefs and be influenced by them.

Age Milestone

Children typically pass the false belief task at around 4 years of age.

Autism and Theory of Mind

Children diagnosed with autism often struggle with the concept of theory of mind.

Contributors to Theory of Mind

Essential precursors include joint attention, understanding intentions, pretend play, imitation, and emotional understanding.

Mirror Neurons

Specialized brain cells activated during both the performance and observation of actions; linked to imitation, empathy, theory of mind skills, and language.

Benefits of Theory of Mind

Enables individuals to find meaning in others' behaviors, contributing to a sense of order and purpose in life.

Desire Psychology

Represents the initial stage of theory of mind, highlighting that desires motivate behavior, such as seeking liked things and avoiding disliked ones.

Belief-Desire Psychology

A more advanced understanding, evident by age 4, where both desires and beliefs are recognized as motivational factors, with awareness that beliefs may not align with reality.

Popularity and Emotional Intelligence

Individuals with higher emotional intelligence and better understanding of sarcasm, developed through theory of mind, tend to be more popular among peers.

Promoting Theory of Mind in Children

Parents can encourage theory of mind development by discussing characters' thoughts and feelings in books and incorporating language related to thinking and feeling in conversations.

Description

Explore key concepts related to the theory of mind with these flashcards. Each card provides definitions of essential terms such as social cognition, mind-reading skills, and the false belief task. Perfect for enhancing your understanding of social cognition and psychological processes.