Evaluate Different Theoretical Accounts of the Development of 'Theory of Mind'.
Evaluate different theoretical accounts of the development of a 'theory of mind '.
Understanding others’ actions and intentions involves being able to firstly understand our own thoughts, feelings, actions and where they came from. This involves being able to appreciate what our own feelings, emotions and actions come from in response to a situation and everyday life. A Theory of Mind (TOM) is being able to comprehend and understand the world through another person’s eyes. That is, to which TOM is being able to appreciate another’s emotions and points of view; as in the state of mind of another person in respect to actions and situations.
The term Theory of Mind was first introduced by Premack and Woodruff (1978). Stating that it is extremely important for social cognition, in which to being able to ‘read’ other peoples thoughts and feelings, it will become possible to predict what their behaviour and actions will be in certain situations.
TOM allows individuals to see a meaning in the behaviours and actions that people carry out in everyday life; it allows people to see a purpose in what actions people are carrying out in order not to become confused by the daily carryings-out of people. Due to this, it permits a sense to be taken on what transpires in the world, and therefore predict others actions and behaviours from previous knowledge in the same or comparable situations; allowing a certain sense of understanding on why it is happening. Once a person can predict a behaviour outcome sufficiently on an individual with the use of information, it is therefore possible to manipulate them into a certain behaviour using the amount information they choose to give them from mastering TOM.
There have been many tests designed to assess whether children have a TOM; the first being by Wimmer and Perner (1983). They stated that children did not understand false-belief until the age of 3-4 years. Many tests have been based on this initial experiment; using
Understanding others’ actions and intentions involves being able to firstly understand our own thoughts, feelings, actions and where they came from. This involves being able to appreciate what our own feelings, emotions and actions come from in response to a situation and everyday life. A Theory of Mind (TOM) is being able to comprehend and understand the world through another person’s eyes. That is, to which TOM is being able to appreciate another’s emotions and points of view; as in the state of mind of another person in respect to actions and situations.
The term Theory of Mind was first introduced by Premack and Woodruff (1978). Stating that it is extremely important for social cognition, in which to being able to ‘read’ other peoples thoughts and feelings, it will become possible to predict what their behaviour and actions will be in certain situations.
TOM allows individuals to see a meaning in the behaviours and actions that people carry out in everyday life; it allows people to see a purpose in what actions people are carrying out in order not to become confused by the daily carryings-out of people. Due to this, it permits a sense to be taken on what transpires in the world, and therefore predict others actions and behaviours from previous knowledge in the same or comparable situations; allowing a certain sense of understanding on why it is happening. Once a person can predict a behaviour outcome sufficiently on an individual with the use of information, it is therefore possible to manipulate them into a certain behaviour using the amount information they choose to give them from mastering TOM.
There have been many tests designed to assess whether children have a TOM; the first being by Wimmer and Perner (1983). They stated that children did not understand false-belief until the age of 3-4 years. Many tests have been based on this initial experiment; using
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