topic 6 - Theory of Mind

Theory of Mind

an individual’s understanding that OTHER people have separate mental states and see the world from a different pov to their own

ASD

umbrella term on a spectrum which share impairments in interaction, social communication, social imagination and sensory sensitivity

False belief

the understanding that others may hold an act on mistaken beliefs

Wimmer and Perner

told 3 and 4 yo the same story: Maxi’s mother had brought home some choc, M sees her put the choc in the blue cupboard. M goes out to play. M mother moves choc to the green cupboard. M comes back in and wants some choc. which cupboard will M look in? dolls used to help kids understand

Perner findings and conclusions

3 yo said that M should look in green. 4 yo said M would look in blue cupboard

Sally-Anne procedure

same really as the chocolate in the cupboard - two dolls (sally and anne) both have marbles, one leaves and the other moves the marble. question is asked when the other doll comes back, where should she look for the marble. study inc 20 kids with ASD averaging 12 yo, 14 children with down’s syndroms and 27 ‘normal’ children

Sally anne findings

85% normal kids got false belief q right, same with DS kids, shows that ToM isn’t linked to intelligence. Baron-Cohen said that impairments in ToM might be an explanation to ASD

later research in adults, Baron-Cohen 1977

adults with ASD normally pass the sally anne test, devied new task called the eyes task, shown different eyes and selected emotions that the eyes were showing. findings: ASD adults - 16.3, normal adults - 20.3