AO3 - Theory of Mind & Autism

• Many of the studies testing the ToM lack validity, as often the scenarios are artificial and the procedures are carried out under controlled conditions.
• Many of the supporting studies testing the ToM lack ecological validity as they are conducted in strictly controlled, artificial conditions.
• In the experiments testing ToM there could be issues with understanding, as young children may not comprehend the questions, or equally so may want to please the research so show demand characteristics.
• Replications of the Sally Anne test have shown similar results to those from Baron-Cohen (1985) suggesting that the method is reliable.
• Leslie (1987) suggested am innate theory of mind mechanism (ToMM) that matures in ‘normal’ children at around 2 years of age. Leslie proposed that autism can be understood in terms of an impairment in the growth and functioning of this mechanism.
• The ToM occurs in all cultures, which supports the idea that there is some underlying biological mechanism, but our experiences can help nurture it.
• Frith & Frith (1999) found evidence that the amygdala, temporal cortex and frontal cortex show raised levels of activity when people are asked to consider the actions or feelings of other people. This proposes that certain brain areas are involved in the development of a Theory of Mind.
• The ToM coincides with Piaget’s conservation skills and is developed around the same age, suggesting this is a valid concept.
• A limitation of ToM research is the reliance on false belief tasks to test the theory, however Bloom & German (2000) argue these may not be valid.
• Bloom & German (2000) suggest that mistakes made on false belief tasks may be the result of poor visual memory rather than ToM.
• Some studies suggest that the tasks used to assess ToM might actually be testing perspective taking instead.
• There are real world applications from understanding how ToM is developed, and can be used to help people with autism navigate the social world a little better.
• Not all children with autism lack a theory of mind, nor are problems with theory of mind limited to autistic people (Tager-Flusberg, 2007).
• In contrast, Perner et al (2002) suggest that ToM is an innate ability which develops alongside other cognitive abilities, largely as the result of maturity.
• Cross-cultural studies like Liu et al (2004) have found a similar pattern of development of ToM abilities in different cultures.
• Wilde Astington (1998) argues that ToM develops as a consequence of our interactions with others, and is gradually internalised.
• Liu et al (2004) suggested that ToM abilities did not necessarily develop at the same age in all cultures but in the same sequence.