The False Beliefs Task
She’s Starting to Suspect Something: My Niece False Beliefs Erica Rodriguez
Florida Atlantic University
Abstract
In this study The False Beliefs Task was used to measure the theory of mind of a four-year-old child. Theory of mind is the child’s understanding that individuals have multiple mental states such as desires, thoughts, and beliefs that affect the way they behave, which allows children to perceive their peer’s unseen conditions. In this task a child between the ages of three and four are shown a familiar object such as a box of crayons and are asked of the contents inside of the box, when in fact unbeknown to the child candles have been replaced in absence of the crayons. The child is then asked how someone else would perceive the box of crayons not knowing they have been replaced by candles. Research studies on the theory of mind has shown that children at the age of three have difficulties passing the false belief task but by the age of four children are able to complete the task correctly. The study shows that by the age of four children are aware of the perception of others. In my own False Beliefs …show more content…
I sat Gemma down and presented to her what seemed to be an unopen bag of Skittles, as she salivated with excitement I asked my interviewee “Gemma what do you think is in this bag?” She looked up at me beaming with delight and said “Skittles!” I then opened the package and poured the contents which happened to be a cluster of paper clips. The participants face turned into disappointment and then to curiosity, she had a lot of questions if you could imagine. Following her reaction, I asked her “If mommy walked in and saw the bag of Skittles without knowing what’s inside what would she think is inside of the bag?” She answered “Skittles.” After her response I asked her again what she originally thought was in the bag and she said
Florida Atlantic University
Abstract
In this study The False Beliefs Task was used to measure the theory of mind of a four-year-old child. Theory of mind is the child’s understanding that individuals have multiple mental states such as desires, thoughts, and beliefs that affect the way they behave, which allows children to perceive their peer’s unseen conditions. In this task a child between the ages of three and four are shown a familiar object such as a box of crayons and are asked of the contents inside of the box, when in fact unbeknown to the child candles have been replaced in absence of the crayons. The child is then asked how someone else would perceive the box of crayons not knowing they have been replaced by candles. Research studies on the theory of mind has shown that children at the age of three have difficulties passing the false belief task but by the age of four children are able to complete the task correctly. The study shows that by the age of four children are aware of the perception of others. In my own False Beliefs …show more content…
I sat Gemma down and presented to her what seemed to be an unopen bag of Skittles, as she salivated with excitement I asked my interviewee “Gemma what do you think is in this bag?” She looked up at me beaming with delight and said “Skittles!” I then opened the package and poured the contents which happened to be a cluster of paper clips. The participants face turned into disappointment and then to curiosity, she had a lot of questions if you could imagine. Following her reaction, I asked her “If mommy walked in and saw the bag of Skittles without knowing what’s inside what would she think is inside of the bag?” She answered “Skittles.” After her response I asked her again what she originally thought was in the bag and she said