Question

Describe the concept of “theory of mind” and how it relates to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Answer 1

• The concept of theory of mind refers to our ability to infer and make sense of our own mental states as well as what others are thinking or feeling.It encompasses the ability to attribute mental states, including emotions, desires, beliefs, and knowledge.
• Using our own experiences as our guide,we try to construct a simulation regarding what may be happening in someone else’s head as we try to imagine what information they are receiving and how it is processed through what we know or guess about their own experiences.
• When we enagage in this process, what we are doing is bascially, in our own minds we are constructing a theory about what is happening in others mind and acting on that basis.
• Now,individuals suffering from autism spectrum disorder are unable to build this kind of mental model in their minds.Adults or children suffering from autism,cannot imagine a brain that is not their own, one that does not have the same information, one with different motivations, other feelings, other abilities.
• They are profoundly unable to ever put themselves into someone else’s shoes, and therefore unable to feel empathy or sometimes even communicate effectively with others.They lack eye contact and language skills.
• This innate ability we have to form a theory of mind about othr people makes us social creatures able to function in the real world.Research says that  language only evolved because of our ability to construct a theory of mind.
• Now,people suffering ASD lack language abilities,they show late development in their speech and communication skills,lack empathy,and their social skills remain underdeveloped which ultimately leads to difficulty in creating theory of mind.