Language may be key to theory of mind - 23 June 2009 - New Scientist - 0 views
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L Butler on 27 Jun 11"Understanding another person's perspective, and realising that it can differ from our own, is known as theory of mind. It underpins empathy, communication and the ability to deceive" "Where does this leap in understanding come from? According to one hypothesis, children gradually deduce that other people have internal experiences that are different from their own by observing the facial expressions and gestures of others over time." "Another suggestion is that theory of mind comes from our ability to use language, which allows children to listen to people talking about their beliefs and emotions. This is backed up by the fact that language fluency and the ability to pass the false belief test emerge at around the same age."