Individual Differences in Theory of Mind: Implications for Typical and Atypical Development (Macquarie Monographs in Cognitive Science)

Over the last fifteen years, developmentalists, cognitive scientists, philosophers, educators and clinicians have considered the acquisition of a theory of mind - the capacity to predict and explain behavior on the basis of internal, subjective mental states - to be one of the crucial cognitive achievements of early childhood. This volume represents the first collection of work to address, empirically and conceptually, the topic of individual differences in theory of mind. It is also unique because it takes the reader beyond the preschool years, to explore theory of mind development in late childhood and adulthood. This volume brings together a variety of papers that consider the inter-relations between theory of mind and other cognitive and behavioral variables, including the impact of theory of mind on social functioning and social relationships, the role of theory of mind in psychopathologies such as schizophrenia, psychopathy and autism, and the relation between theory of mind and language in typical and atypical populations.