Key idea: Theory of mind lets a child understand that other people can believe something different from them, even something false.
Theory of mind usually appears around age four. In the Sally-Anne test, a child must say where a doll will look for a marble that was moved while she was away (Baron-Cohen and colleagues 1985).
Wimmer and Perner (1983) told children a story in which a boy's chocolate is moved while he is out. Most children under four said he would look where it now is; most older children said where he left it.
Go further: higher-level insight: Theory of mind is the start of empathy: to share someone's feelings, you first have to know they see things differently.
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Key idea: Theory of mind opens the door to empathy, friendship, cooperation and even lying.
What theory of mind makes possible
Empathy
Knowing a friend feels left out, even if you do not.
Cooperation
Planning a game with someone who knows different things.
Secrets and lies
Understanding that someone can be fooled.
Teaching
Explaining what another person does not yet know.
Feel · Share · Trick · Teach
What supports its role
- Clear change at about age four
- Most autistic children failed Sally-Anne
- Links to empathy and friendship
Where to be careful
- Stories also test language and memory
- Infants may understand earlier
- One task is not the whole ability
Watch out: Failing a task is not lacking the ability. Say what else the task tests.