Theory of Mind

TOM definintion

The ability to attribute mental states such as beliefs, desires, or intentions to others and to understand that others have different perspectives.

classic test is used to assess children's Theory of Mind?

The Sally-Anne Task where a child must recognise that another person can hold an incorrect belief about the world.

At what age do humans typically pass the Sally-Anne Task?

Around 18 months.

a common method of assessing Theory of Mind in animals

Gaze following - indicating that they understand where attention is directed

Which species are often the focus of comparative studies on Theory of Mind?

Primates and other intelligent species using experiments designed to reveal understanding of goals, beliefs and knowledge

What did Hare et al (2001) demonstrate regarding subordinate chimps?

They preferred to go for food hidden from dominant individuals, indicating an understanding of what others can or cannot see.

What notable method did Krupenye et al (2016) use to test apes' understanding of false beliefs?

Eye-tracking to see if apes could anticipate where a human would look for a hidden object based on the human’s false belief.

What does the Social Intelligence Hypothesis suggest?

Social complexity drives cognitive evolution leading to Theory of Mind-like abilities.

What is a challenge in Theory of Mind research?

Many tasks test performance rather than competence, meaning an animal may understand a mental state but fail the task for other reasons.

What is the concept of graded or minimal Theory of Mind?

The idea that animals may possess minimal or graded forms of ToM, where they understand perception and goals but not necessarily beliefs. (Call and Tomasello)

Theory of Behaviour

A psychological framework that explains behavior through learned experiences and environmental influences.

What argument do critics make against evidence of Theory of Mind in animals?

Many behaviors can often be explained through associative learning rather than genuine understanding of mental states.

Which big-brained animals have been shown to have higher cognition processes related to Theory of Mind?

Great apes and elephants.