Theory Of Mind: What Is It And What Does It Explain To Us About Ourselves?
When we think about all those mental faculties that are characteristic of human beings and no other species, it is very easy to think about language, the ability to learn all kinds of things or the possibility of solving complex mathematical problems.
These are easily observable human characteristics, but they are not the only ones we exclusively enjoy. There is another, much more discreet one, thanks to which our social relationships are richer. This ability has been called Theory of mind
Generally defined, Theory of Mind is the ability to be aware of the differences that exist between one’s own point of view and that of others
In other words, this faculty makes it possible for us to take into account the mental states of other subjects without assuming that these ideas or thoughts are like our own. A person who has developed Theory of Mind can attribute ideas, desires and beliefs to the rest of the agents with whom he interacts. And all this automatically, almost unconsciously.
A hierarchy of mental states
Very often we are exposed to situations in which we have to imagine what someone else is thinking. In turn, this person can assume, from the information they have about us, what we think they are thinking, and all this can also be inferred by us and by the other person in a theoretically infinite loop. A hierarchy of mental states that contain each other: I believe that you believe that I believe …
The Theory of Mind is placed in second place in this hierarchy (I think you believe this), and it is the seed from which the ability to progress towards the rest of the more complex categories is born.
How is Theory of Mind developed? The 4-year-old threshold
Human beings are probably the only species in which its members can think of others as intentional agents, that is, beings with their own interests. This means that from a very early age, the vast majority of humans are able to distinguish between an action and the goal towards which that action is oriented, even if the latter has not been clearly revealed. Besides, Within a few months of life, all people learn to take into account where others are focusing their attention and therefore they can demand that attention for themselves or towards something that is nearby.
These changes in the cognitive development of babies begin towards the end of the first year of age and are part of what is known as nine month revolution from which skills emanate that build on each other and enhance the creation of complex social behaviors, such as simulated play, which requires understanding that the other is acting by using a banana as if it were a telephone, or imitation, in the one in which the child learns from the actions of the adult and is able to figure out the objective of each of the movements he is seeing.
Theory of Mind It appears around 4 years of age and is built on the foundations of all these capacities derived from the nine-month revolution, but it intervenes in more abstract and refined mental processes. Thus, all those people who develop Theory of Mind think of others not only as intentional agents, but also as mental agents, with a whole series of complex psychological states that are their own. Among these new mental states that are attributed to others are, for example, desires and beliefs.
The classic method to find out if a boy or girl has developed Theory of Mind is the false belief test This is a test that can only be solved correctly if you are able to differentiate your own knowledge about the environment from what another person believes about it. In addition, it is an exercise that can be used to help detect cases of Autism Spectrum Disorders, since people who manifest symptoms associated with autism tend to show a little or no developed Theory of Mind.
In an example of this test, the psychologist manipulates two dolls to form a short narrative in which everything happens before the attentive gaze of the boy or girl being tested. First, the first doll shows a toy and then shows how she keeps it in a nearby trunk. Then, the doll disappears from the scene and the second doll appears, taking the toy out of the trunk and putting it in, for example, a backpack resting on the floor. At that moment, the boy or girl is asked: “When the first doll re-enters the room, what is the first place he will look for the toy?”
Normally, boys and girls under four years old will fail to give an answer, because they will believe that the first doll has the same information as them and will go looking for the backpack first. However, at four years old, the majority already give a correct answer, proof that they have made the transition towards Theory of Mind and that they have abandoned a rather egocentric
