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 develop 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.EI04639-6464