Social Cognition

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Social Cognition

• Kristin Tritch
• Kristina Faudree

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Definition

• Process of thinking about how other people are
  likely to think, act and react and choosing ones
  own interpersonal behaviors accordingly
• Develop theory of mind that has complex
  understandings of peoples mental and emotional
  states
• Thoughts
• Beliefs
• Feelings
• Motives
• Intentions

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Infancy

• Become aware of ability to share focus of
  attention with caregiver (intersubjectivity)
• Learn about intentionality, which is when they
  realize people behave in order to accomplish a
  goal so they draw inferences about their
  intentions
• Observe peoples emotional reactions, so
• follow these reactions (social referencing)

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Early Childhood

• Start using words that are feelings and
  thinking (ex want, sad)
• Mind does not always show events accurately
• Learn to think more about others

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Middle Childhood

• Learn peoples actions dont always show true
  thoughts
• Realize other people interpret and not just
  remember their experiences
• Dont stereotype specific types of people

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Early Adolescence

• Learn that people may have more than one feeling
  at the same time that conflict
• Begin recursive thinking, which is where they
  think about what other people are thinking about
  them

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Late Adolescence

• Learn people are products of environment and past
• Learn to use peers as a way to find themselves
• Become more aware that there are some people that
  are different from them

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In the Classroom

• Talk to children about their feelings
• Look at situations from others perspectives
• Help with body language and nonverbal cues
• Work to break down stereotypes