Theories and Concepts
Theory of Mind
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Theory of mind (often abbreviated ToM) is the capacity to understand other individuals by ascribing mental states to them, including the understanding that others' beliefs, desires, intentions, emotions and thoughts may be different from one's own. Possessing a functional theory of mind is treated as crucial for success in everyday human social interaction and is used when analyzing, judging and inferring other people's behavior.
Facts
Core ClaimOther people have their own beliefs, desires and intentions that may differ from one's own and from reality, and that must be inferred rather than directly observed, since no one has direct access to another mind. 1 Cross-Tradition Connections
Associated With
The Sally-Anne test is the founding operationalization of theory of mind as an experimental false-belief task.
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Theory of Mind
Wikimedia FoundationLead sectionQuote, Lead section
Research on theory of mind, in humans and animals, adults and children, normally and atypically developing, has grown rapidly in the years since Premack and Guy Woodruff's 1978 paper, "Does the chimpanzee have a theory of mind?"
1. Wikipedia: Theory of Mind
Wikipedia: Sally-Anne Test
Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: Sally-Anne Test, Article body, section on the belief question and what passing the test demonstratesQuote, Associated With: Sally-Anne Test, Article body, section on the belief question and what passing the test demonstrates
Passing the test is thus seen as the manifestation of a participant understanding that Sally has her own beliefs that may not correlate with reality; this is the core requirement of theory of mind.
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