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ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS:
Topic B:
What is the theory of mind? How is it assessed? What role do desire and desire-belief psychology play in this process? What developmental changes occur in acquiring a theory of mind? What factors affect its emergence?
Airenti, B. (2015). Theory of mind: a new perspective on the puzzle of belief ascription. Frontiers in Psychology, 6:1184. https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01184
Complete the following readings from the textbook, Life-span Human Development:
Chapter 12: Social Cognition and Moral Development
Chapter 13: Emotions, Attachment, and Social Relationships
In addition, refer to the following websites (optional):
Fostering Goodness: Teaching Parents to Facilitate Children’s Moral Development
Personality stability
Romanian Orphanages and Attachment Complete the following readings from the textbook, Life-span Human Development:
Chapter 12: Social Cognition and Moral Development
Chapter 13: Emotions, Attachment, and Social Relationships
In addition, refer to the following websites (optional):
Fostering Goodness: Teaching Parents to Facilitate Children’s Moral Development
Personality stability
Romanian Orphanages and Attachment
Textbook is Life Span Human Development
HOW TO WORK ON THIS ASSIGNMENT (EXAMPLE ESSAY / DRAFT)
The theory of mind (ToM) is the ability to understand that others have thoughts, beliefs, and desires that may differ from our own. This concept is essential for social interaction, communication, and empathy. ToM is typically assessed through false belief tasks, where an individual is presented with a scenario where a character has a false belief, and they must predict the character’s actions based on their own understanding of the situation.
Desire and desire-belief psychology plays a significant role in ToM development. According to desire psychology, an individual’s behavior is based on their desires and motivations. In contrast, desire-belief psychology considers that individuals’ behavior is influenced by their beliefs about the world, including beliefs about others’ thoughts and desires. These perspectives help children understand the reasons behind others’ actions and make predictions about their behavior.
Developmental changes occur in acquiring a theory of mind. Infants as young as 6 months old begin to understand the intentions behind other people’s actions. By the age of 2, children start to understand that others have beliefs, and by the age of 4, they can understand that beliefs can be false. By the age of 5, children begin to understand the relationship between beliefs and behavior.
Several factors affect the emergence of ToM, including cognitive ability, language development, and social experience. Children with higher cognitive abilities tend to develop ToM skills at a younger age. Language development plays a significant role in ToM development, as language provides a means of communication and sharing experiences. Social experience is also essential for ToM development, as interactions with others allow for the opportunity to observe and understand different perspectives.
Chapter 12 and 13 of the Life-span Human Development textbook delve deeper into social cognition, moral development, emotions, attachment, and social relationships, which are all connected to the development of ToM. Additionally, websites such as Fostering Goodness, which focuses on teaching parents to facilitate children’s moral development, can provide valuable insight into the role of parenting in ToM development. The study of Romanian orphanages and attachment can also provide insight into how social experiences can affect ToM development.
In conclusion, ToM is a crucial aspect of human development that is essential for social interaction and empathy. Understanding how it is assessed, the role of desire and desire-belief psychology in its development, the developmental changes that occur, and the factors affecting its emergence can provide valuable insight into how to support ToM development in children.
Too Tired? Too Anxious? Need More Time? We’ve got your back.