Sociocultural environment and human development: Some reflections on the cultural differences in theory of mind
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24215/2422572Xe141Keywords:
theory of mind, cognitive development, cultural differences, false belief, psychological assessmentAbstract
The theory of mind (ToM) is a key milestone in human development, as it allows for the understanding of fundamental skills for effective communication and social engagement. Most recent research is based on the study of false belief as a representative indicator of its development, but this fact overlooks the complex nature of the phenomenon, whose development depends on the gradual organisation of multiple aspects. While there is consensus as to the multifaceted nature of ToM, the processes that underlie its development have been little explored beyond Western cultures, especially focusing on North American and European samples. This article discusses current evidence on existing cultural differences in the developmental patterns and times of ToM acquisition. Additionally, it addresses the limited diversity of tasks that have been traditionally used for ToM evaluation and the difficulties that it could pose in terms of validity and generalisation of results.
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