- Theory of mind (ToM) is the ability to attribute mental states to ourselves and others, serving as one of the foundational elements for social interaction.
- Having a theory of mind is important as it provides the ability to predict and interpret the behavior of others.
- During infancy and early childhood, children learn the early skills that they’ll need to develop their theory of mind later on, such as paying attention to people and copying them.
- The traditional test for theory of mind is a false-belief task, used to assess a child’s understanding that other people can have beliefs about the world which contrast with reality.
- Countless empirical studies reveal that this ability develops in toddlers as young as 15 months old and deteriorates with age. Research also demonstrates this ability in some of our closest relatives: apes.
- Some individuals with autism, Asperger’s, schizophrenia, depression, or social anxiety disorder exhibit a deficit in theory of mind and perform poorly on related tasks.
https://www.simplypsychology.org/theory-of-mind.html
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