chapter 8 & 17- theory of mind and autism part 1

core knowledge theories

• distinct specialized systems develop very early in life help simplify learning for some forms of knowledge

  • we more easily acquire knowledge in these certain domains that have special evolutionary importance (innate capability)

  • ex: language module (sensitivity to speech sounds)

  • note: experience is still necessary for innate knowledge to develop

Naïve theories

amateur formulations about the world

• research traces childrens knowledge of

  • psychology (Theory of mind) - awareness of ones own mental processes and the mental processes of others

  • physics (knowledge of objects)

  • biology (knowledge of living things)

  • languahe

Naïve psychology

our informal beliefs about others

• why do others act the way they do?

• how might we predict how others will act?

starts with an early understanding of intentionally

• around 1 yr infants start to understand that peoples behavior is often intentional

• TOM develops between 2-5 yrs

  • understanding relations between mind and behavior

  • we explain and predicts what people do based on what we understand

around age 2

awareness of their own and others desires

• i like ice cream and mommy likes yogurt: she is going to buy yogurt (it makes her happy)

age 3

increased understanding that people can have different mental states

• start to use verbs like think, believe, and forget

around the age of 4-5

child begins to gain a coherent understanding that their own and others behavior is based on their beliefs about events and situations (even when these beliefs are FALSE)

false belief task outcomes

-       4 year olds: most will accurately say that Sally will act on her false belief

(Sally will look in the basket, where Sally last saw it).

-       3 year olds: most will inaccurately say that Sally will look in the box.

(But, Sally can’t know this because Sally didn’t see the switch!)

*The younger children (below 4 years) believe Sally knows what they know! They don’t understand it is possible to have a false belief!

developing a theory of mind

interactions with others (parents) may help

• provide children with insights into the mental states of others

• emphasize others moods, feelings, desires, and intentions

theory of mind and autism

mindblindness

• children with ASD seem to have difficulty understanding others mental states