Megan Critchlow - Psychology
Contents
Introduction 58
The normal development of a Theory of Mind 60
Breaking down a normal Theory of Mind 61
The Mindblindness Theory 62
The effectiveness of developing an autistic child’s Theory of Mind 64
A developed Theory of Mind improving real life situations
68
Conclusion 71
Bibliography 74
Abstract
My research question is “To what extent can our understanding of a
Theory of Mind help its development within autistic children through
training?” Autistic children have difficulties understanding people’s
behaviours, desires and figures of speech. Therefore my aim is to
construct an argument to show how the understanding of a Theory of
Mind allows us to develop interventions aimed at improving an autistic
child’s Theory of Mind.
Before we can explore how to develop a Theory of Mind the concept
must first be understood with reference to a normal child. Therefore my
investigation was undertaken by exploring the nature of a Theory of Mind
within a normal child, and how it allowed us to develop the theory that
it can be improved within autistic children. Studies by Swaggart et al
1995; Paynter J. and Peterson C.C; Golen et al 2009; Singh. et al 2006,
supported the idea that a Theory of Mind can be developed to an extent
that allowed autistic children to interact with less disruptive behaviour in
environments such as school.
My conclusion is that promising interventions have been developed to
improve an autistic child’s Theory of mind that accordingly decreases
their aggressive behaviour during social situations, and enables them to
be able to interpret other people’s expressions. However some aspects
cannot be developed and it is unlikely that there will ever be a cure.
Therefore alternative methods have been created, this is demonstrated
by Hulburt et al with the thought-bubble method, indicating autistic
children can learn to imagine a picture in another’s heads, however they
can not instinctively understand what another’s goals may be.
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