Why Is Theory of Mind Important for Referential Communication?
Francesc Sidera1, Georgina Perpiñà1, Jèssica Serrano1
1University of Girona, Facultat d'Educació i Psicologia, 17071 Girona, Spain.
Current Psychology (New Brunswick, N.J.)
|September 18, 2018
Summary
Children's Theory of Mind (ToM) skills are linked to better communication and cooperation. Specifically, ToM abilities support requesting clarification, giving information, and using joint review strategies for successful collaboration.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Communication Studies
Background:
- Theory of Mind (ToM) is crucial for social understanding.
- Effective communication and cooperation are vital skills for children.
- Previous research suggests a link between ToM and social interaction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between children's Theory of Mind (ToM) and their communicative behaviors.
- To identify specific communicative strategies used in cooperative tasks.
- To determine how ToM abilities influence cooperative success through communication.
Main Methods:
- 46 children aged 6-10 participated.
- Children completed 6 Theory of Mind (ToM) tasks.
- Pairs of children engaged in a cooperative referential communication task involving building models.
Main Results:
- Several ToM skills correlated with requesting clarification and giving information.
- The 'Joint review' strategy, where participants discussed block locations, was most frequent.
- 'Joint review' was significantly related to ToM abilities and task success.
Conclusions:
- Theory of Mind (ToM) development is important for effective communication in cooperative settings.
- Specific communicative strategies, like joint review, are enhanced by ToM.
- ToM abilities are foundational for developing the communication skills necessary for successful cooperation.
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