A Review of Theory of Mind Differences and Causes in Animals and Humans

Year 2023, Volume: 24 Issue: 44, 151 - 167, 31.01.2023

Melis Süngü Tevfik Alıcı

https://doi.org/10.21550/sosbilder.1170825

Abstract

Theory of mind (ToM) is the ability to understand other people’s mental states. No clear findings have been found in animal studies. This suggests that the difference between great apes and humans, who have similar social-cognitive structures, may be due to theory of mind. This study investigates the difference that may cause ToM by compiling the findings and ideas about how Tom is developed. Studies show that language skill, which is another crucial difference, predicts ToM. Language helps to ensure participation in society and the interaction of human with the environment may have paved the way for predicting others’ mental states. Communication with the social environment also includes knowledge transfer and learning. This review is aimed to contribute to the literature with the idea that learning type can evolve into a complex cognitive and social structure together with the social environment and language, making modern humans different from animals.

Keywords

theory of mind (ToM), language, human-animal difference, social environment, learning

HAYVANLARDA VE İNSANLARDA ZİHİN KURAMI FARKLILIKLARI VE NEDENLERİ ÜZERİNE BİR DERLEME

Abstract

Zihin kuramı başka insanların zihinsel durumlarını anlayarak davranışlarını tahmin edebilme becerisidir. İnsanlarda okul öncesi dönemde geliştiği düşünülen bu beceri birçok hayvan çalışmasına konu olmuş fakat net bulgulara rastlanmamıştır. Bu durum benzer evrimsel hikâyeye ve sosyal-bilişsel yapılara sahip büyük maymun ve insanlar arasındaki farkın zihin kuramından kaynaklı olabileceğini düşündürmektedir. Bu çalışmada zihin kuramının nasıl oluştuğuna ve geliştiğine dair bulgular ve fikirler derlenerek insan-hayvan farkının zihin kuramına da sebep olabilecek temellerini araştırmak amaçlanmıştır. Yapılan araştırmalar diğer önemli bir fark olan dil becerisinin zihin kuramını yordadığını göstermektedir. Dilin topluma katılımı sağlamaya yardımcı olması ve sosyal bir varlık olan insanın çevreyle etkileşimi diğer insanların zihinsel durumlarını tahmin edebilmenin yolunu açmış olabilir. Sosyal çevreyle iletişim aynı zamanda bilgi aktarımı ve öğrenmeyi içermektedir. Bu derleme çalışmasında da öğrenme tipinin, sosyal çevre ve dil ile birlikte karmaşık bir bilişsel ve sosyal yapıya evrilerek modern insanı hayvanlardan farklı kılabileceği fikriyle alanyazına katkı sağlamak amaçlanmaktadır.

Keywords

zihin kuramı, dil becerisi, insan-hayvan farklılığı, sosyal çevre, öğrenme

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