Theory of Mind

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Psychology Press, 2007 Price 15
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Connecting with other minds

• The development of a very special human faculty

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Definitions and background

• To predict and explain behaviour by invoking
  abstract concepts like mind, desire, think,
  remember etc.
• Associated abilities
• Imagination
• Communication (including deception)
• Social coordination

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Evolutionary origin and species specificity

• How did it come to be that humans have a theory
  of mind?
• The cognitive arms race!
• The brain that became so powerful that it
  understood itself.
• The development of self-concept.
• Note natural selection works at the level of the
  individual.
• Why dont rats have a theory of mind?
• Are we capable of mindreading? Does it qualify as
  ESP?!

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Individual differences and psychopathology

• Do women have a better-developed theory of mind
  than men?
• Is there anyone who does not have a theory of
  mind?
• The perplexing case of autism and Asperger
  syndrome
• The wild boy of Aveyron
• Hugh Blair of Borge

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Is this a topic that falls within the scope of
experimental psychology?

• How can we tell whether or not someone has a
  theory of mind?
• We assume that people carry out actions to
  satisfy desires. They execute the actions on the
  supposition that their beliefs are true.
• Whats wrong with a test of true belief?
• Whats so good about a test of false belief?
• Methodological
• Theoretical

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Unexpected transfer test
While Maxi is out playing, his Mum takes the
chocolate from the cupboard and grates some of it
into a cake.
Maxi is returning from play feeling hungry. He
wants his chocolate.
Where will Maxi look for his chocolate?
Where did Maxi put his chocolate?
Where did Mum put his chocolate?
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Deceptive box testGets round criticisms that
children had difficulty with story comprehension
Whats inside this tube?
What is it?
What will your friend Johnny say is inside?
(Perner et al, 1987)
When you first saw this tube, before we opened
it, what did you think was inside? (Gopnik
Astington, 1988)
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Do apes have a theory of mind?
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Where do they live?
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What do they look like?
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Psychology Press, 2007 Price 15