How does Theory-of-mind Affect Relationships & Interaction with others?

"Theory- of- mind understanding" refers to the child's understanding of beliefs, and thoughts regarding distinction between mental beliefs and physical reality, thoughts based on assumptions, and real knowledge based on proof.

False belief understanding usually starts during the pre-operational stage, when the child understands that a person can believe something that is not true, which shows distinction between the non-mental reality and the mental state.

Appearance- reality distinction shows the ability to differentiate between correct reality and appearance when they are different, by understanding that objects are not always in reality the way that they appear.

Research has shown relations between theory of mind understanding and social behavior.

A child's social interactions can aid in their understanding the concepts of mental states, beliefs and desires.

Alternately, a child's understanding of this can aid in their social behavior through understanding others thought patterns.

Studies have shown that the fastest children to grasp false-belief understanding are those that are from large families, suggesting a link between false understanding and a higher number of siblings, since the children have more opportunities to learn about their own and others thought processes with increased experiences with people around them, when fighting, playing, teaming up, games etc.

Observing autistic children shows us how crucial theory-of-mind understanding is to normal social relations.

Autistic children are not in tune to the feelings, wishes, and thoughts of others.

They generally do not do well on theory of mind tasks, even when they are seemingly high functioning in other mental areas.

They have a poor theory of mind understanding.

They have little ability to form interpersonal relationships and show little interest in other people.

They have significant problems with social interaction, as well as a number of other abnormalities in development that are probably biologically based.

Therefore, their theory of mind understanding is partially developed- since they have false belief understanding, but not a full comprehension of appearance-reality distinction.

The results of their blindness to theory of mind understanding are clearly linked to their problematic social relations, and shows how crucial theory of mind understanding is to normal social behavior.

We have all seen examples of Theory of mind understanding and False- Belief understanding on numerous occasions, with children that we have had interactions with.

An example would be a conversation that I had with two children.

The other day, I was talking to a child about his understanding of the clouds, and what they are made out of, and he correctly said that the clouds are made up of water that comes down in the rain and then goes back up.

He was correct, but did not know the word evaporation or how it happens.

However, his younger sister did not think that his explanation was correct.

She did not believe that the water evaporates, or goes back up in any way.

She giggled and said to me, "Could you believe that he actually thinks that! That's a really funny idea- imagine seeing it raining backwards, with the water floating back up in the air! He thinks that the water goes back up to the clouds! Isn't that a funny thought? That's not true! The water never goes back up. The clouds just always have more water and make rain, and they don't run out of water."

Although she clearly misunderstood, and he was right, she did demonstrate false-belief understanding, the understanding that her brother believes something that may not be true.

If she did not have this capability, she would have automatically believed what he said, and expected to one day see the rain going up, or figured that it happened when she wasn't looking.

So, although she herself came to a false conclusion, she demonstrated her ability to understand that things aren't always the way that people say it is, and that is an important lesson as well.

Interestingly, she does come from a large family, and has probably seen previous times that her brother was mistaken in his understanding of different concepts, and therefore assumed that he was wrong this time as well.

If she had not had theory of mind understanding, then she would have believed what he said and not thought to think otherwise.

This is an important step to growth, knowledge, and improved social interaction.

Although both of these siblings have false- belief understanding, they don't seem to fully grasp appearance-reality distinction, because they both expressed confusion about how the water goes up if they never see it going up.

So, they don't fully understand that things aren't always in reality the way that they appear.