Theory of mind: Better methods, clearer findings, more development

Abstract

Beginning in 1991, Willem Koops challenged me that typical theory of mind data were “not very developmental”. In the intervening years, better methods and clearer findings have addressed this challenge. I argue that the clearest developmental theory-of-mind findings come from combining longitudinal, microgenetic, and developmental scaling methods. I review illustrative studies using these methods, to provide a clearer, “more developmental” picture of theory-of-mind acquisition in the preschool years.

Keywords:

• Theory of mind
• Developmental methods
• Microgenetic research

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Henry M. Wellman

This research was supported by a grant to the author from the National Institute for Child Health and Human Development (HD022149).