Download or read book The Child s Theory of Mind written by Henry M. Wellman and published by Bradford Books. This book was released on 1992 with total page 358 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Do children have a theory of mind? If they do, at what age is it acquired? What is the content of the theory, and how does it differ from that of adults? "The Child's Theory of Mind "integrates the diverse strands of this rapidly expanding field of study. It charts children's knowledge about a fundamental topic - the mind and characterizes that developing knowledge as a coherent commonsense theory, strongly advancing the understanding of everyday theories as well as the commonsense theory of mind.Henry M. Wellman is a Professor in the Department of Psychology and the Center for Human Growth and Development at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.
Download or read book The Child s Theory of Mind written by Henry M. Wellman and published by MIT Press (MA). This book was released on 1990 with total page 384 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Do children have a theory of mind? If they do, at what age is it acquired? What is the content of the theory, and how does it differ from that of adults? The Child's Theory of Mind integrates the diverse strands of this rapidly expanding field of study. It charts children's knowledge about a fundamental topic - the mind - and characterizes that developing knowledge as a coherent commonsense theory, strongly advancing the understanding of everyday theories as well as the commonsense theory of mind. Wellman presents evidence that children as young as age three do possess a commonsense theory of mind - that they grasp the distinction between mental constructs and physical entities and that they have an understanding of the relationship between individuals' mental states and their overt actions. He delves in detail into questions about the nature of adults' commonsense theories of mind and about the nature of commonsense theories. Wellman then examines the content of the three-year-old's theory of mind, the nature of children's notions of mind before age three, the changes in the theory during subsequent development from ages three to six, and the young child's conception of mind in comparison with those of older children and adults. Henry M. Wellman is a Professor in the Department of Psychology and the Center for Human Growth and Development at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.
Download or read book Theory of Mind written by Martin Doherty and published by Psychology Press. This book was released on 2008-08-26 with total page 452 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Most of us are continually aware that others have thoughts and feelings – but are children? When? This book is a concise and readable review of the extensive research into children’s understanding of what other people think and feel, a central topic in developmental psychology known as "Theory of Mind". The understanding of belief is central to this text, which explains in simple terms what representational theory of mind is all about, and shows how researchers have demonstrated this understanding in 4-year-olds. The book considers what leads to this understanding, including the role of pretend play, understanding of attention and eye direction, and other precursors to representational understanding of mind. The general relevance of theory of mind is demonstrated through coverage of the development of other mental state concepts, and the relationship between understanding mental representation and other representational media. The author also carefully summarizes current research on the relationship between theory of mind and concurrent developments in executive functioning, and the understanding of language. The book closes by considering autism. A major achievement of theory of mind research is the light it has helped throw on this puzzling developmental disorder. Providing a comprehensive overview of 25 years of research into theory of mind, the book will be of great interest to both students and researchers in psychology, philosophy and the cognitive sciences.
Download or read book The Child s Discovery of the Mind written by Janet W. Astington and published by Harvard University Press. This book was released on 1993 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Three-year old Emily greets her grandfather at the front door: "We're having a surprise party for your birthday! And it's a secret!" We may smile at incidents like these, but they illustrate the beginning of an important transition in children's lives--their development of a "theory of mind." Emily certainly has some sense of her grandfather's feelings, but she clearly doesn't understand much about what he knows, and surprises--like secrets, tricks, and ties all depend on understanding and manipulating what others think and know. Jean Piaget investigated children's discovery of the mind in the 1920s and concluded that they had little understanding before the age of six. But over the last twenty years, researchers have begun to challenge his methods and revise his conclusions. In The Child's Discovery of the Mind, Janet Astington surveys this lively area of research in developmental psychology. Sometime between the ages of two and five, children begin to have insights into their own mental life and those of others. They begin to understand mental representation--that there is a difference between thoughts in the mind and things in the world, between thinking about eating a cookie and eating a cookie. This breakthrough reflects their emerging capacity to infer other people's thoughts, wants, feelings, and perceptions from words and actions. They come to understand why people act the way they do and can predict how they will act in the future, so that by the age of five, they are knowing participants in social interaction. Astington highlights how crucial children's discovery of the mind is in their social and intellectual development by including a chapter on autistic children, who fail to make this breakthrough. "Mind" is a cultural construct that children discover as they acquire the language and social practices of their culture, enabling them to make sense of the world. Astington provides a valuable overview of current research and of the consequences of this discovery for intellectual and social development.
Download or read book Making Minds written by Professor Henry M. Wellman and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2014-10-09 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Developmental psychologists coined the term "theory of mind" to describe how we understand our shifting mental states in daily life. Over the past twenty years researchers have provided rich, provocative data showing that from an early age, children develop a sophisticated and consistent "theory of mind" by attributing their desires, beliefs, and emotions to themselves and to others. Remarkably, infants barely a few months old are able to attend closely to other humans; two-year-olds can articulate the desires and feelings of others and comfort those in distress; and three- and four-year-olds can talk about thoughts abstractly and engage in lies and trickery. This book provides a deeper examination of how "theory of mind" develops. Building on his pioneering research in The Child's Theory of Mind (1990), Henry M. Wellman reports on all that we have learned in the past twenty years with chapters on evolution and the brain bases of theory of mind, and updated explanations of theory theory and later theoretical developments, including how children conceive of extraordinary minds such as those belonging to superheroes or supernatural beings. Engaging and accessibly written, Wellman's work will appeal especially to scholars and students working in psychology, philosophy, cultural studies, and social cognition.
Download or read book Children s Theories of Mind written by Douglas Frye and published by Psychology Press. This book was released on 2014-01-14 with total page 281 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is a result of a study group that met to discuss the child's theory of mind. A topic whose effects span cognitive, language, and social development, it may bring a unifying influence to developmental psychology. New studies in this area acknowledge children's conceptions of intention and belief, as well as intention and belief themselves, and consider the explanations they provide for children's developing abilities. The contributors to this important volume examine several aspects of the child's theory of mind, and present significant research findings on the theory itself and how it changes and develops for each child. Discussions of the utility of a theory of mind to the child, and to developmental psychologists trying to understand children, are provided. Finally, new explanations are offered for how children acquire a theory of mind in the first place.
Download or read book Children s Early Understanding of Mind written by Charlie Lewis and published by Psychology Press. This book was released on 1994 with total page 514 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A major feature of human intelligence is that it allows us to contemplate mental life. Such an understanding is vital in enabling us to function effectively in social groups. This book examines the origins of this aspect of human intelligence. The five sections attempt firstly, to place human development within an evolutionary context, focusing on the possibility of innate components of understanding. The second aim of the book is to examine the roles of early perception, pretence and communication as precursor skills in the development of a grasp of mental states. Thirdly, attention is given to the possibility that children know a good deal more about the mind than is apparent from many studies designed to probe their abilities. Taken together, the chapters in this book mark a new focus within a 'theory of mind' movement, examining a group of skills in infancy and early childhood which culminate towards the end of the preschool period in a more mature understanding of one's and others' mental states. Drawing together researchers from diverse theoretical positions, the aim is to work towards a coherent and unified account of this fundamental human abiity. This book will be of central relevance to psychologists and those in related disciplines, particularly education and philosophy.
Download or read book Making Minds written by Henry M. Wellman and published by Oxford Cognitive Development. This book was released on 2014 with total page 377 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides a comprehensive examination of how theory of mind develops. Building on previous work, this book pulls together' all that we have learned in the past 25 years to make sense of this powerful everyday theory. This book includes chapters on evolution and the brain bases of theory of mind; updated treatments and explanations of theory; infant theory of mind as the platform for developments in later childhood; and later developments from middle childhood to adulthood, including how we understand extraordinary minds such as those that belong to gods, superheroes, or supernatural beings.
Download or read book Perspectives on the Child s Theory of Mind written by George Butterworth and published by . This book was released on 1991 with total page 384 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: We all have minds of our own. The fact that we all experience our own thoughts, ideas, and imaginings, and that other people can know about them only if we choose to tell them, is taken for granted by most of us. But young children, whose understanding of everyday mental states is quite different, do not necessarily jump to the same conclusion. This volume reports the latest research and theory on this classic and important topic -- vitally important, since all social behavior depends on an awareness of others. How and when an accurate knowledge of other minds arises is the central question of this volume. This authoritative work explores the theory of mind in a wide-ranging collection, featuring discussions of imagination, false beliefs, mind and emotion, and autism. The Child's Theory of Mind is also published as two issues of the British Journal of Developmental Psychology. Researchers and teachers in psychology and child psychology will find this a stimulating and informative book, which suggests several important potential applications.
Download or read book Children s Reasoning and the Mind written by Peter Mitchell and published by Psychology Press. This book was released on 2000 with total page 436 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This dynamic book offers an investigation into the development of the cognitive processes that underpin judgements about mental states. It addresses specific issues that have not been adequately dealt with in the past.
Download or read book When can children be said to have a theory of mind written by Christine Langhoff and published by GRIN Verlag. This book was released on 2007-12-03 with total page 9 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Essay from the year 2004 in the subject Psychology - Developmental Psychology, grade: 2.1, Oxford Brookes University, language: English, abstract: Theory of mind has been defined as the ability to think about other people’s mental states and form theories of how they think. It is part of the so-called social cognition which is the term given to knowledge about people and affairs. The notion of theory of mind became important in Psychology following an experiment by Premack and Woodruff (1978) in which they attempted to test whether chimpanzees have a theory of mind. After the publication of this paper it was suggested that children could be tested to see if they had a theory of mind by giving them a false belief task. This is a test to see whether a child will act on a knowingly incorrect belief, or be aware that a second person who is not in possession of a certain piece of information may act incorrectly. Over the last decades many experiments with false belief tasks were conducted in order to test when children develop theory of mind and the results have shown that after about four years of age children realise that another person can have inaccurate belief about the world. However, it has been argued by some researchers that children develop theory of mind earlier and others have stressed that theory of mind cannot be regarded as fully developed in four-year-old children, but rather as a skill that develops for several years after children are successful on typical false belief tasks. I am going to explore some of the studies and arguments dealing with the question of when children can be said to have a theory of mind.
Download or read book Theory of Mind written by Scott A. Miller and published by Psychology Press. This book was released on 2012-08-21 with total page 258 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is the first book to provide a comprehensive review of the burgeoning literature on theory of mind (TOM) after the preschool years and the first to integrate this literature with other approaches to the study of social understanding. By highlighting the relationship between early and later developments, the book provides readers with a greater understanding of what we know and what we still need to know about higher-order TOM. Although the focus is on development in typical populations, development in individuals with autism and in older adults is also explored to give readers a deeper understanding of possible problems in development. Examining the later developments of TOM gives readers a greater understanding of: Developments that occur after the age of 5. Individual differences in rate of development and atypical development and the effects of those differences. The differences in rate of mastery which become more marked, and therefore more informative, with increased age. What it means to have a “good theory of mind.” The differences between first- and second- order theory of mind development in preschoolers, older children, adolescents, and adults. The range of beliefs available to children at various ages, providing a fuller picture of what is meant by “understanding of belief.” After the introduction, the literature on first-order developments during the preschool period is summarized to serve as a backdrop for understanding more advanced developments. Chapter 3 is devoted to the second-order false belief task. Chapters 4 and 5 introduce a variety of other measures for understanding higher-level forms of TOM thereby providing readers with greater insight into other cognitive and social developmental outcomes. Chapter 6 discusses the relation between children’s TOM abilities and other aspects of their development. Chapters 7 and 8 place the work in a historical context. First, the research on the development of social and mental worlds that predated the emergence of TOM is examined. Chapter 8 then provides a comparative treatment of the two literatures and how they complement one another. Ideal as a supplement in graduate or advanced undergraduate courses in theory of mind, cognitive development, or social development taught in psychology and education. Veteran researchers will also appreciate this book‘s unique synthesis of this critical research.
Download or read book How the Child s Mind Develops written by David Cohen and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2005-08-19 with total page 210 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: * How do we get from helpless baby to knowing, ironic teenager? * Is cognition a question of learning and environment or heredity? * What impact do television and computers have on cognitive development? Cognitive Development - how we learn to think, perceive, remember, talk, reason and learn - is a central topic in the field of psychology. In this highly readable book, David Cohen discusses the key theories, research and controversies that have shaped and informed our knowledge of how the child's mind develops. He shows how the questions and issues that have intrigued psychologists over the past hundred years or so relate to the child growing up in the 21st century. This book is for everyone who lives with, works with or studies children. Issues such as learning to read and write, performance in the classroom, and measuring intelligence and ability are covered, as are child crime and the development of morality. The effects on cognitive development of social change and increased exposure to television and computers are also discussed. How the Child's Mind Develops provides an integrated and thought-provoking account of the central issues in cognitive development. It will provide the professional, parent and student with an invaluable introduction to the development of the mind.
Download or read book The Child as Thinker written by Sara Meadows and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2006-10-19 with total page 126 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: First published in 1993. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.
Download or read book Conceptual Coherence in the Child s Theory of Mind written by Virginia Payne Slaughter and published by . This book was released on 1994 with total page 302 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Theory of Mind in Middle Childhood and Adolescence written by Rory T. Devine and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2021-05-26 with total page 181 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This landmark text integrates diverse perspectives on how humans understand others’ minds (or ‘theory of mind’) beyond early childhood into middle childhood and adolescence. It explores how the neural, cognitive, and social changes of middle childhood and adolescence shape the ongoing development of theory of mind, and how theory of mind helps children navigate their lives. Drawing on cutting-edge research from leading international experts, this book provides a survey and analysis of the current state and future direction of the field. It is organized around three themes relating to the key issues in contemporary research. The first part focuses on the biological and cognitive bases of theory of mind in middle childhood and adolescence. The second part goes on to explore the social predictors and consequences, considering how theory of mind is shaped by social experiences and, in turn, impacts children’s social lives in middle childhood and adolescence. Finally, the third part focuses on theory of mind in the context of neurodiversity, disability, and youth mental health in middle childhood and adolescence. Offering in-depth understanding for all students and scholars of developmental and cognitive psychology, neuroscience, clinical psychology and psychiatry, and education, this valuable text also identifies an agenda for future scholarship on this exciting topic.
Download or read book Why Language Matters for Theory of Mind written by Janet Wilde Astington and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2005-03-24 with total page 369 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Theory of mind" is the phrase researchers use to refer to children's understanding of people as mental beings, who have beliefs, desires, emotions, and intentions, and whose actions and interactions can be interpreted and explained by taking account of these mental states. The gradual development of children's theory of mind, particularly during the early years, is by now well described in the research literature. What is lacking, however, is a decisive explanation of how children acquire this understanding. Recent research has shown strong relations between children's linguistic abilities and their theory of mind. Yet exactly what role these abilities play is controversial and uncertain. The purpose of this book is to provide a forum for the leading scholars in the field to explore thoroughly the role of language in the development of the theory of mind. This volume will appeal to students and researchers in developmental and cognitive psychology.
