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How language does (and does not) relate to theory of mind: A longitudinal study of syntax, semantics, working memory and false belief
Author(s) -
Slade Lance,
Ruffman Ted
Publication year - 2005
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 - 10.1348/026151004x21332
Subject(s) - syntax , semantics (computer science) , false belief , psychology , linguistics , relation (database) , theory of mind , cognitive psychology , computer science , cognition , artificial intelligence , programming language , philosophy , neuroscience , database
Forty‐four children (mean 3.8 years) were given three false belief, a working memory, and four language tasks (each designed to tap a different aspect of syntax or semantics), and were tested again 6 months later. Once the range of scores in the language and false belief tasks were equated, there was a bidirectional relation between language and theory of mind. There was no evidence for syntax playing a unique role in the contribution of language to theory of mind. No one measure of syntax or semantics was more likely than any other to predict later false belief. Nor was false belief related more to one aspect of later language (syntax vs. semantics) than another. Our data, taken with other findings, are consistent with the idea that both syntax and semantics contribute to false belief understanding. Working memory did not mediate the relation between language and theory of mind, nor did it facilitate later false belief.