Theory of Mind and Reactions to Emotional Responses in Children with Visual Impairments: A Comparison with Sighted Children

Yıl 2023, Cilt: 24 Sayı: 2, 199 - 214, 01.06.2023

Hale Çotuk , Selda Özdemir

https://doi.org/10.21565/ozelegitimdergisi.890063

Cited By: 1

Öz

Introduction: Theory of Mind (ToM) is a social cognitive process that provides the basis for positive social responses in personal interactions. Possessing ToM makes it possible to recognize and understand other people’s thoughts, beliefs, and emotions. Due to the relationship between ToM and understanding emotions, the purpose of this study was to compare the reactions to emotional responses (happy and sad) of children with low vision, children with severe visual impairments, and sighted children with the ToM processes. The research's purpose was to investigate the relationships between the children's ToM scores and their responses to emotional expressions
Method: The study consisted of 20 children with low vision (x = 58.45, sd = 1.74), 19 children with severe visual impairments (x = 60.36, sd = 1.84), and 20 sighted children (x̄ = 60.35, ss = 1.58) who were between the ages of 48 and 72 months and did not have additional disabilities or developmental delays. Participants were initially assessed with the ToM, First Order False Belief, Unexpected Location, and Unexpected Content tasks. In the second stage, the researcher played with each child for about 20 minutes to assess the participants' reactions to emotional responses. The researchers created emotional social scenarios implemented within a play dyad through which the researcher would display happy and sad feelings. Children’s reactions to emotional responses were coded and analyzed.
Findings: The study findings showed that children with severe visual impairments received lower scores on the ToM tasks than children with low vision and sighted children. Additionally, results indicated that children with low vision and severe visual impairments displayed increased ignorance toward the researcher’s emotional expressions compared to sighted children. The current study found that children with severe visual impairments and sighted children’s ToM scores were related to their reactions to emotional responses.
Discussion: Findings from the current study suggest that children with severe visual impairments may display emotional reaction difficulties while participating in various emotional and social situations. Based on the study results, suggestions for future research and early intervention practices were provided.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Emotions, emotional responses, theory of mind, children with severe visual impairments, children with low vision

Görme Yetersizliği Olan Çocuklarda Zihin Kuramı ve Duygu Tepkileri: Gören Çocuklarla Bir Karşılaştırma

Öz

Giriş: Zihin kuramı, insanlar arası ilişkilerde uyumlu sosyal tepkilerin temelini oluşturan sosyal bilişsel bir süreçtir. Zihin kuramına sahip olmak diğer insanların düşünce inanç gibi bilişsel süreçleriyle birlikte duygularını tanıma ve anlamanın önünü açar. Zihin kuramının duyguları anlamayla yakın ilişkisi nedeniyle bu araştırmada ağır görme yetersizliğinden etkilenmiş, az gören ve gören çocukların zihin kuramı süreçleri ile duygu ifadelerine verdikleri tepkilerinin (mutlu ve üzgün) karşılaştırılarak incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Araştırma kapsamında katılımcı çocukların zihin kuramı puanları ile duygu ifadelerine gösterdikleri tepkiler arasındaki ilişkilerin incelenmesi hedeflenmiştir.
Yöntem: Araştırmaya yaşları 48 ile 72 ay arasında olan, görme yetersizliği haricinde ek bir yetersizlik ve gelişimsel gecikme sergilemeyen 20 az gören (x̄ = 58.45, ss = 1.74), 19 ağır görme yetersizliğinden etkilenmiş çocuk (x̄ = 60.36, ss = 1.84) ve 20 gören çocuk (x̄ = 60.35, ss = 1.58) katılmıştır. Araştırma kapsamında ilk olarak katılımcı çocukların zihin kuramı, birinci derece yanlış kanı atfı becerileri, yer değiştirme ve beklenmedik İçerik görevleriyle değerlendirilmiştir. İkinci aşamada katılımcı çocukların başkalarının duygu ifadelerine verdikleri tepkileri değerlendirmek amacıyla her bir çocukla 20 dakika boyunca oyun oynamıştır. Oyun sürecinde araştırmacı oyun kurgusu ile uyumlu, mutlu ve üzgün duygu ifadelerini sergileyeceği sosyal durumlar oluşturmuş ve mutlu ve üzgün duygularını sergilemiştir.
Bulgular: Araştırmanın sonuçları ağır görme yetersizliğinden etkilenmiş çocukların, az gören ve gören akranlarına göre zihin kuramı puanlarının düşük olduğunu göstermiştir. Bununla birlikte ağır görme yetersizliğinden etkilenmiş ve az gören çocukların gören akranlarına oranla araştırmacının sergilediği duygu ifadelerini daha fazla görmezden gelme tepkileri sergiledikleri de belirlenmiştir. Araştırmada ağır görme yetersizliği olan çocukların ve gören çocukların zihin kuramı puanlarının farklı duygu ifade tepkileri ile ilişkili olduğu saptanmıştır.
Tartışma: Bu çalışmadan elde edilen sonuçlar ışığında ağır görme yetersizliği sergileyen çocukların sosyal uyum problemleri sergileyebileceği tartışılmış, erken müdahale uygulamaları ve ileri araştırmalara yönelik önerilere yer verilmiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Duygular, duygusal tepkiler, zihin kuramı, ağır görme yetersizliğinden etkilenmiş çocuklar, az gören çocuklar, children with severe visual impairments, children with low vision

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