Mental state talk, a developmental perspective

grantor: University of TorontoWe investigated the developmental trajectories of mental state talk (cognitive, desire and feeling) in children, and influences on mental state talk Thirty-seven Caucasian families, each with two parents and two children, participated in this study over a two-year period. Data were collected during six 90-minute sessions in the participants' homes. Each speaker turn was coded for the presence of mental state terms and the referent (e.g., self, other). Results indicated that cognitive state talk increases in children and parents as the children get older. Mothers and older girls talked more than fathers and older boys about the mental states of others. Finally, children with an older sibling, when compared to those without older siblings are advantaged in their cognitive state talk at age 4 after controlling for MLU. Children with an older sibling are not however advantaged in their talk about desires and feelings.M.A