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Understanding of intention and false belief and the development of self‐control
Author(s) -
Lang Birgit,
Perner Josef
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
british journal of developmental psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.062
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 2044-835X
pISSN - 0261-510X
DOI - 10.1348/026151002166325
Subject(s) - psychology , cognitive psychology , task (project management) , false belief , reflex , control (management) , executive functions , developmental psychology , action (physics) , theory of mind , cognition , neuroscience , artificial intelligence , physics , management , quantum mechanics , computer science , economics
We tested the prediction that there is a direct developmental link between understanding false belief, understanding that reflex movements are not intentional actions and the ability to inhibit interfering action tendencies. The common ability consists of the understanding of mental states as representations with causal efficacy (Perner, 1991). One false belief task, the knee‐jerk reflex task and two executive function tasks (Dimensional Change Card Sorting Test and hand game) were given to 69 children aged 3, 4 and 5 years old. The results showed that the relationship between false belief and executive control tasks also extends to children's understanding of reflex movements.