Mõtteteooriate

Mõtteteooriate, also known as Theory of Mind, refers to the ability to attribute mental states—beliefs, intentions, desires, emotions, knowledge, etc.—to oneself and to others. It is the capacity to understand that others have their own thoughts and feelings, which may differ from one's own. This understanding is crucial for social interaction, enabling individuals to predict and explain the behavior of others.

The development of Theory of Mind is a complex process that typically emerges in early childhood. Infants show rudimentary signs of understanding intentions, and by the age of around four to five years, most children can pass false-belief tasks, a key indicator of developed Theory of Mind. These tasks involve understanding that someone can hold a belief that is incorrect, and that this incorrect belief will guide their actions. For example, in the Sally-Anne task, a child understands that Sally will look for her ball where she last saw it, even though the child knows Anne has moved it.

Deficits in Theory of Mind are characteristic of certain neurodevelopmental conditions, most notably Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Individuals with ASD often struggle with understanding social cues, inferring others' mental states, and engaging in reciprocal social interaction. Research in this area utilizes various experimental paradigms, including eye-tracking studies, behavioral tasks, and neuroimaging techniques, to investigate the cognitive and neural underpinnings of Theory of Mind and its alterations in different populations. The study of Theory of Mind is fundamental to psychology, cognitive science, and philosophy, offering insights into the nature of consciousness, social cognition, and empathy.