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. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
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 Connections
Associated With
The Sally-Anne test is the founding operationalization of theory of mind as an experimental false-belief task.
Source Wikipedia: Sally-Anne Test
In Branch
Source Wikipedia: Theory of Mind
Source Wikipedia: Theory of Mind
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Theory of Mind
Wikimedia FoundationLead 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?"
Definition section
theory of mind (often abbreviated to ToM) is the capacity to understand other individuals by ascribing mental states to them
In Branch: Developmental Psychology, Article text
Research in developmental psychology suggests that an infant's ability to imitate others lies at the origins of both theory of mind and other social-cognitive achievements like perspective-taking and empathy.
In Branch: Social Psychology, Article text
Theory of mind is also closely related to person perception and attribution theory from social psychology.
View the Source 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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