A Review of Theory of Mind: Different Mental States and Lifespan Development

Abstract

Theory of mind, one of our most significant socio-cognitive skills, may be defined as the ability to attribute mental states to both others and ourselves and to predict behaviors in terms of these mental states. Theory of mind researches mostly rely on a single mental state during a single period and investigate false belief understanding during preschool period with similar methods and tasks. However, theory of mind involves other mental states such as desire, knowledge, emotion, faux pas and sarcasm. Although not investigated in Turkey, theory of mind continues to develop in adolescents, adults and older. From this point of view, this study aims to review theory of mind from a developmental perspective and includes mental states that develops during different life periods as well as their measures. Thus, we try to draw attention to a broad assessment of mental states in different lifespan periods rather than just relying on false belief understanding in preschool period.

Keywords

• theory of mind
• review
• mental states
• lifespan development
• theory of mind tasks

Zihin Kuramının Gözden Geçirilmesi: Farklı Zihinsel Durumlar ve Yaşam Boyu Gelişim

Abstract

En önemli sosyobilişsel becerilerden biri olan Zihin Kuramı, sosyal dünyada kendimize ve başkalarına zihinsel durumlar atfetme ve bu zihinsel durumlar üzerinden davranışları tahmin etme becerimizdir. Zihin kuramı, ağırlıklı olarak tek bir yaşam dönemindeki tek bir zihinsel duruma indirgenerek okul öncesi dönemdeki yanlış kanılara odaklanmakta ve benzer yöntem ve görevler ile çalışılmaktadır. Oysaki zihin kuramının kapsamında arzu, bilgi, duygu, gaf, kinaye vb. zihinsel durumlar da mevcuttur. Bununla birlikte Türkiye’deki çalışmalarda incelenmemiş olsa da zihin kuramı ergenlik, yetişkinlik ve yaşlılık dönemlerinde de gelişimine devam etmektedir. Bu noktalardan hareketle bu çalışmanın amacı zihin kuramını gelişimsel bir yaklaşım ile ele alarak yaşamın farklı dönemlerinde gelişen zihinsel durumları ve bu durumların değerlendirilmesini literatür ışığında ele almaktır. Böylece hem zihin kuramının sadece yanlış kanı atfı temelinde değil aksine daha kapsamlı ölçülmesi gerektiğine hem de sadece okul öncesi dönemde değil ergenlik, yetişkinlik ve yaşlılık dönemlerinde de incelenmesi gerektiğine dikkat çekilmiş olacaktır.

Keywords

• zihin kuramı
• derleme
• zihinsel durum
• zihin kuramı görevleri
• yaşam boyu gelişim

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