selman

• perspective taking tasks with children of different ages

  holly and her kitten
• level 0 (3-6 years)


  can't perspective take
• level 1 (6-8 years)


  understand that others have a different POV
• level 2 (8-10 years)


  understand others POV
• level 3 (10-12 years)


  understand other peoples POV
• level 4 (12+ years)


  understand need for societal laws and rules
• strength


  toy shop study

  • as children get older they use less manipulation on their parents - perspective taking
  • field and natural - very ecological valid
  • covert observation
• weakness


  confounding variables - people taught differently
• strength

  research support for stages

  • perspective taking becomes more advanced with age
  • positive correlation between age and ability (Selman, 1971)
• weakness

  reductionism

  • too much emphasis on cognitive factors -minimises the importance of internal (emotional self-regulation)
  • external like parental behaviours