Why Language Matters for Theory of Mind [Hardcover]

Theory of mind is the phrase researchers use to refer to children's understanding of people as mental beings, who have beliefs, desires, emotions, and intentions, and whose actions and interactions can be interpreted and explained by taking account of these mental states. The gradual development of children's theory of mind, particularly during the early years, is by now well described in the research literature. What is lacking, however, is a decisive explanation of how children acquire this understanding. Recent research has shown strong relations between children's linguistic abilities and their theory of mind. Yet exactly what role these abilities play is controversial and uncertain. The purpose of this book is to provide a forum for the leading scholars in the field to explore thoroughly the role of language in the development of the theory of mind. This volume will appeal to students and researchers in developmental and cognitive psychology.

Chapter 1. Why language matters: Introduction to the volume,Janet Wilde Astington & Jodie A. Baird
Chapter 2. Language pathways into the community of minds,Katherine Nelson
Chapter 3. Communication, relationships, and individual differences in children's understanding of mind,Judy Dunn and Marcia Brophy
Chapter 4. Conversation, pretense and theory of mind,Paul L. Harris
Chapter 5. Talking about new information: The given/new distinction and children's developing theory of mind,Danielle K. O'Neill
Chapter 6. The developmental origins of meaning for mental terms,Derek E. Montgomery
Chapter 7. Language promotes structural alignment in the acquisition of mentalistic concepts,Dare Baldwin & Megan Saylor
Chapter 8. Language and the development of cognitive flexibility,Sophie Jaques & Philip David Zelazo
Chapter 9. Representational development and false-belief understanding,Janet Wilde
Chapter 10. Can language acl“T