Theory of Mind Essay - 1086 Words

Describe what evolutionary psychologists mean when they employ the term ‘theory of mind’. Use examples and research studies from Book 1, Chapter 2 to show why this theory is important in evolutionary psychology. Evolutionary psychology is a specialist field within the spectrum of psychological enquiry, which seeks to examine and understand some of the predominant reasoning behind the concept of why the human species, whilst biologically similar to other species on the planet, is so very distinct in terms of intelligence and mental progression; demonstrated by the multifaceted and complex social structures we have created. Primary to this domain of evolutionary psychological interest is the notion of ‘theory of mind’, which was developed†¦show more content†¦An example would be the assumption that because someone is sleeping, they are tired. Counter- deception involves an individual separating the overt actions of another from what their actual motivation for behaving in that particular way is. This could be seen in the form of ‘reverse psychology’. Recognition of intervening variables understands how certain events and situations can cause particular reacti ons and responses from others. An example of this would be a fight situation, where the attacked party could well feel afraid, and as a result run away. The final variation of mind- reading is that of experience projection; which allows individuals to apply their personal experiences onto other people. For example, someone who broke their leg and experienced the pain, would be able to empathise with another individual who they saw break their leg. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In 1988, Premack carried out a research study which would appear to support the notion of the ‘theory of mind’. In his study, which was centred on an adult chimpanzee called Sarah; he exposed her to videotapes of an actor with a problem, namely an inability to reach some bananas that were placed out of reach overhead. He then proceeded to show Sarah a number of photographed solutions to the problem, only one of which actually evidenced a successful solution to the problem, (in this situation, it was stepping on aShow MoreRelatedEf And Theory Of Mind1295 Words   |  6 PagesEF and Theory of Mind It has been suggested that there is a strong link between EF and Theory of Mind (ToM; Moses Carlson, 2004). ToM is the ability to infer other people’s mental states, such as intentions, thought, feelings, and beliefs (Baron-Cohen, 1988). Neuroimaging studies have indicated that prefrontal cortex is involved in thinking about mental states (e.g., Amodio Frith, 2006; Frith Frith, 2003; Sabbagh Taylor, 2000; Siegal Varley, 2002). It was well documented that individualsRead MoreWhat Is Meant By A Theory Of Mind? Essay1834 Words   |  8 PagesTo address this question, it is helpful to define what is meant by a ‘theory of mind’ (ToM). This proposes that people, and perhaps other animals, have the capability of understanding that others have a mental state which is separate, and perhaps different, from their own. Premack and Woodruff (1978, p.515) cited in The Open University (2016, p.86) first described this as ‘an individual has a theory of mind if he impu tes mental states to himself and others’. For example, I know my team has scoredRead MoreHow Psychology Is The Theory Of Mind1783 Words   |  8 PagesPeople understand each other using cognitive skills, an example of this is mindreading. Mindreading abilities also referred to as the theory of mind (ToM) is acknowledging that other people have mental states, such as understanding that others have desires, motives, beliefs and intentions (Hewson, 2015a). This is generally an essential, undemanding skill for social interaction. Thereby, this essay will evaluate how psychology has helped to explain how people understand each other by firstly, explainingRead More Argument that Autism is Characterized by the Lack of Theory of Mind1086 Words   |  5 Pagesdescription on the disorder of autism. However, in the 1970s, Wing (1970) (as cited in Sachs, 1995) applied a cognitive perspective in describing the mental structure of autism. This essay will therefore argue that autism is ch aracterized by the lack of theory of mind (Premack Woodruff, 1978, as cited in Baron-Cohen et al., 1985), which is a cognitive mechanism. It will further outline empirical evidence derived from the review of two studies, collectively known as false belief tasks. The Sally-Anne taskRead MoreCognitive Theory Of Mind : Children With A Basic Fundamental Knowledge Of The Language999 Words   |  4 Pageslifespan. Developmental psychologists research the developmental trajectory as this shows how the language, reasoning and social skill abilities develop. People develop mindreading abilities when they start to understand others by having a cognitive theory of mind. Research evidence, children from the age of four begin to develop mindreading skills, psychologist control this by performing tasks such as the ‘Sally-Anne’ task and the ‘smarties’ task. However, arguments by psychologists define some childrenRead MoreThe Theory Of Mind : A Research Study Into Autism Spectrum Disorder ( Asd )1830 Words   |  8 PagesPeople understand each other using cognitive skills, such as mindreading. Mindreading abilities also referred to as the theory of mind (ToM) is acknowledging that other people have mental states, such as understanding that others have desires, motives, beliefs and intentions (Hewson, 2015a). For most people this is generally an essential, undemanding skill for social interaction. Thereby, this essay will evaluate how psychology has helped to explain how people understand each other by firstly, explai ningRead MoreThe Theory Of The Mind964 Words   |  4 PagesThe mind is both rational and consciously aware in situations that demand a reactive response. It acts as a control system that communicates between the external world and the spiritual being, allowing reasoning to take play. For years, philosophers have hypothesized ways to identify the minds function and capabilities. Causing both controversy and accord, these philosophers center their theories on rationalism and take a methodical approach towards understanding the complexity of the mind. Renà ©Read MoreThe Theory Of The Mind Essay1927 Words   |  8 PagesThe stability of the mind is uncertain in the medical field. Even though researches about how the mind works has helped us developed a better understanding about the human mind and its behavior, they have failed to give us a complete and knowledgeable concrete answer to all the questions of its deep studies. The human mind is still a very abroad subject to medicine. What makes a mind stable and what triggers mental illnesses is a question that will still be unknown to the medical field forRead MoreThe Theory Of Mind, And Sensation Essay1191 Words   |  5 PagesBeauty and the Ugly. Aesth means pleasure and pain while ethics means goodness and evil. This makes the basis Emotion. Aesthetics is broken up to a lot of things. In the following essay, we will be focusing and discussing the Theory of mind, and Sensation. The theory of mind starts with Descartes Dualism. Descartes was a man that â€Å"believed that the body and the soul are different kinds of things.† He called these substances. The body is a material substance, meaning it is not only physical, but itRead MoreThe Theory Of The Mind And Matter1023 Words   |  5 PagesMind Matter Gilbert Ryle’s writing Descartes Myth provides a challenge to the â€Å"official theory† of the mind. The â€Å"official theory† of the mind is defined as the separation of the mind and body. Ryle describes the separation of the mind and body as the mind existing apart from the physical world and the body existing in the world. He writes that the two entities, the mind and body, combine to create a person. The â€Å"official theory† of the mind views the mind as private to the individual, meaning