The Development of 5-to 8-Year-Olds' Theory of Mind

This study aimed to explore the developmental sequence of theory of mind after age 5,and to examine the relationship among different components of theory of mind.Picture-story method was used and four theory-of-mind tasks,including first-order false belief,second-order false belief,interpretive theory of mind and faux pas understanding were carried out.The results indicate that 5-year-olds can wonderfully understand first-order false belief.Interpretive theory of mind and second-order false belief understanding develope at similar age,6-8 year old is the critical developing period for both of them.6-year-olds can detect faux pas,but even 8-year-olds can not understand the cognitive and emotion components in faux pas.Drawn on the correlation and regression results,the first-order false belief understanding seem to be the foundation of the later developed interpretive theory of mind,second-order false belief understanding and faux pas understanding.