Skip to main content
Top
Gepubliceerd in:

01-04-2007 | Original Paper

Do Children with Autism have a Theory of Mind? A Non-verbal Test of Autism vs. Specific Language Impairment

Auteurs: Livia Colle, Simon Baron-Cohen, Jacqueline Hill

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders | Uitgave 4/2007

Log in om toegang te krijgen
share
DELEN

Deel dit onderdeel of sectie (kopieer de link)

  • Optie A:
    Klik op de rechtermuisknop op de link en selecteer de optie “linkadres kopiëren”
  • Optie B:
    Deel de link per e-mail

Abstract

Children with autism have delays in the development of theory of mind. However, the sub-group of children with autism who have little or no language have gone untested since false belief tests (FB) typically involve language. FB understanding has been reported to be intact in children with specific language impairment (SLI). This raises the possibility that a non-verbal FB test would distinguish children with autism vs. children with SLI. The present study tested two predictions: (1) FB understanding is to some extent independent of language ability; and (2) Children with autism with low language levels show specific impairment in theory of mind. Results confirmed both predictions. Results are discussed in terms of the role of language in the development of mindreading.
Literatuur
go back to reference Appleton, M., & Reddy, V. (1996). Teaching three year-olds to pass false belief tests: A conversational approach. Social Development, 5, 275–291.CrossRef Appleton, M., & Reddy, V. (1996). Teaching three year-olds to pass false belief tests: A conversational approach. Social Development, 5, 275–291.CrossRef
go back to reference Astington, J., & Jenkins, J. (1999). A longitudinal study of the relation between language and theory-of-mind development. Developmental Psychology, 35, 1311–1320.PubMedCrossRef Astington, J., & Jenkins, J. (1999). A longitudinal study of the relation between language and theory-of-mind development. Developmental Psychology, 35, 1311–1320.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Baird, G., Charman, T., Cox, A., Baron-Cohen, S., Sweettenham, J., Wheelwright, S., & Drew, A. (2001). Screening and surveillance for autism and pervasive developmental disorders. Archives of Diseases in Childhood, 84, 468–475.CrossRef Baird, G., Charman, T., Cox, A., Baron-Cohen, S., Sweettenham, J., Wheelwright, S., & Drew, A. (2001). Screening and surveillance for autism and pervasive developmental disorders. Archives of Diseases in Childhood, 84, 468–475.CrossRef
go back to reference Baron-Cohen, S., Leslie, A. M., & Frith, U. (1985). Does the autistic child have a ‘theory of mind’? Cognition, 21, 37–46.PubMedCrossRef Baron-Cohen, S., Leslie, A. M., & Frith, U. (1985). Does the autistic child have a ‘theory of mind’? Cognition, 21, 37–46.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Call, J., & Tomasello, M. (1999). A nonverbal false belief task: The performance of children and great apes. Child Development, 70, 381–395.PubMedCrossRef Call, J., & Tomasello, M. (1999). A nonverbal false belief task: The performance of children and great apes. Child Development, 70, 381–395.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Cassidy, K., & Balluramen, G. (1997). Theory of mind ability in language delayed children. Paper presented at biennial meeting of Society for Research in Child Development, Washington, DC. Cassidy, K., & Balluramen, G. (1997). Theory of mind ability in language delayed children. Paper presented at biennial meeting of Society for Research in Child Development, Washington, DC.
go back to reference Chandler, M., Fritz, A., & Hala, S. (1989). Small-scale deceit: Deception as a marker of two, three, and four-years-olds’ early theories of mind. Child Development, 60, 1263–1277.PubMedCrossRef Chandler, M., Fritz, A., & Hala, S. (1989). Small-scale deceit: Deception as a marker of two, three, and four-years-olds’ early theories of mind. Child Development, 60, 1263–1277.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Clements, W. A., Rustin, C., & McCallum, S. (2000). Promoting the transition from implicit to explicit understanding: A training study of false belief. Developmental Science, 3, 88–92.CrossRef Clements, W. A., Rustin, C., & McCallum, S. (2000). Promoting the transition from implicit to explicit understanding: A training study of false belief. Developmental Science, 3, 88–92.CrossRef
go back to reference de Villiers, J., & de Villiers, P (1995). Steps in the mastery of sentence complements. Paper presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, March 31, 1995. Indianapolis, IN. de Villiers, J., & de Villiers, P (1995). Steps in the mastery of sentence complements. Paper presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, March 31, 1995. Indianapolis, IN.
go back to reference de Villiers, J., & de Villiers, P. (2000). Linguistic determinism and the understanding of false belief. In P. Mitchell & K. J. Riggs (Eds.), Children reasoning and the mind (pp. 191–228). Hove, England: Psychology Press. de Villiers, J., & de Villiers, P. (2000). Linguistic determinism and the understanding of false belief. In P. Mitchell & K. J. Riggs (Eds.), Children reasoning and the mind (pp. 191–228). Hove, England: Psychology Press.
go back to reference Fenson, L., Dale, P. S., Reznick, J. S., Thal, D., Bates, E., Hartung, J., Pethick, S., & Reilly, J. (1993). MacArthur communicative development inventories. User’s guide and technical manual. San Diego, CA: Singular Publishing Group. Fenson, L., Dale, P. S., Reznick, J. S., Thal, D., Bates, E., Hartung, J., Pethick, S., & Reilly, J. (1993). MacArthur communicative development inventories. User’s guide and technical manual. San Diego, CA: Singular Publishing Group.
go back to reference Gale, E., de Villiers, P., de Villiers, J., & Pyers, J. (1996). Language and theory of mind in oral deaf children. In A. Stringfellow, D. Cahana-Amitay, E. Hughes, & A. Zukowski (Eds.), Proceedings of the 20th annual Boston University conference on language development, Vol. 1. Somerville, MA: Cascadilla Press. Gale, E., de Villiers, P., de Villiers, J., & Pyers, J. (1996). Language and theory of mind in oral deaf children. In A. Stringfellow, D. Cahana-Amitay, E. Hughes, & A. Zukowski (Eds.), Proceedings of the 20th annual Boston University conference on language development, Vol. 1. Somerville, MA: Cascadilla Press.
go back to reference Hale, C. M., & Tager-Flusberg, H. (2003). The influence of language on theory of mind: A training study. Developmental Science, 61, 346–359.CrossRef Hale, C. M., & Tager-Flusberg, H. (2003). The influence of language on theory of mind: A training study. Developmental Science, 61, 346–359.CrossRef
go back to reference Happé, F. (1995). The role of age and verbal ability in the theory of mind task performance of subjects with autism. Child Development, 66, 843–855.PubMedCrossRef Happé, F. (1995). The role of age and verbal ability in the theory of mind task performance of subjects with autism. Child Development, 66, 843–855.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Harris, P. (1996). Desires, beliefs, and language. In P. Carruthers & P. K. Smith (Eds.), Theories of theories of mind (pp. 200–220). Cambridge, MA: Cambridge University Press. Harris, P. (1996). Desires, beliefs, and language. In P. Carruthers & P. K. Smith (Eds.), Theories of theories of mind (pp. 200–220). Cambridge, MA: Cambridge University Press.
go back to reference Iarocci, G., Della Cioppa, J., Randolph, B., & Wohl, E. (1997). Do children with developmental language delay have theory of mind? McGill University, Montreal. Iarocci, G., Della Cioppa, J., Randolph, B., & Wohl, E. (1997). Do children with developmental language delay have theory of mind? McGill University, Montreal.
go back to reference Leiter, R. (1952). Leiter International Performance Scale. Chicago, IL: Stoelting. Leiter, R. (1952). Leiter International Performance Scale. Chicago, IL: Stoelting.
go back to reference Leslie, A. M., & Frith, U. (1988). Autistic children’s understanding of seeing, knowing, and believing. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 6, 315–324. Leslie, A. M., & Frith, U. (1988). Autistic children’s understanding of seeing, knowing, and believing. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 6, 315–324.
go back to reference Lord, C., Rutter, M., DiLavore, P., & Risi, S. (1999). Autism diagnostic observation schedule. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services. Lord, C., Rutter, M., DiLavore, P., & Risi, S. (1999). Autism diagnostic observation schedule. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services.
go back to reference Miller, C. (2001). False belief understanding in children with specific language impairment. Journal of Communication Disorders, 34, 73–86.PubMedCrossRef Miller, C. (2001). False belief understanding in children with specific language impairment. Journal of Communication Disorders, 34, 73–86.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Moore, C., Pure, K., & Furrow, D. (1990). Children’s understanding of the modal expression of speakers certainty and uncertainty and its relation to the development to the development of a representational theory of mind. Child Development, 61, 722–730.PubMedCrossRef Moore, C., Pure, K., & Furrow, D. (1990). Children’s understanding of the modal expression of speakers certainty and uncertainty and its relation to the development to the development of a representational theory of mind. Child Development, 61, 722–730.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Lohmann, H., & Tomasello, M. (2003). A role of language in the development of false belief understanding: A training study. Child Development, 74, 1130–1144.PubMedCrossRef Lohmann, H., & Tomasello, M. (2003). A role of language in the development of false belief understanding: A training study. Child Development, 74, 1130–1144.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Perner, J. (1991). Understanding the representational mind. Bradford Books MIT Press. Perner, J. (1991). Understanding the representational mind. Bradford Books MIT Press.
go back to reference Perner, J., Frith, U., Leslie, A., & Leekman, S. (1989). Exploration of the autistic child’s theory of mind: knowledge, belief, and communication. Child Development, 60, 689–700.CrossRef Perner, J., Frith, U., Leslie, A., & Leekman, S. (1989). Exploration of the autistic child’s theory of mind: knowledge, belief, and communication. Child Development, 60, 689–700.CrossRef
go back to reference Peterson, C. C., & Siegal, M. (1999). Representing inner worlds: Theory of mind in autistic, deaf and normal hearing children. Psychological Science, 10, 126–129.CrossRef Peterson, C. C., & Siegal, M. (1999). Representing inner worlds: Theory of mind in autistic, deaf and normal hearing children. Psychological Science, 10, 126–129.CrossRef
go back to reference Peterson, C. C., & Siegal, M. (2000). Insight into theory of mind from deafness and autism. Mind & Language, 15, 123–145.CrossRef Peterson, C. C., & Siegal, M. (2000). Insight into theory of mind from deafness and autism. Mind & Language, 15, 123–145.CrossRef
go back to reference Piaget, J. (1963). The origins of intelligence in children. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. Piaget, J. (1963). The origins of intelligence in children. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.
go back to reference Rutter, M. (1978). Language disorder and infantile autism. In M. Rutter & E. Schopler (Eds.), Autism: A reappraisal of concepts and treatment (pp. 85–104). New York: Plenum. Rutter, M. (1978). Language disorder and infantile autism. In M. Rutter & E. Schopler (Eds.), Autism: A reappraisal of concepts and treatment (pp. 85–104). New York: Plenum.
go back to reference Russell, J., Mauthner, N., Sharpe, S., & Tidswell, T. (1991). The ‘windows task’ as a measure of strategic deception in preschoolers and autistic subjects. British Journal of Developmental Psychology. Russell, J., Mauthner, N., Sharpe, S., & Tidswell, T. (1991). The ‘windows task’ as a measure of strategic deception in preschoolers and autistic subjects. British Journal of Developmental Psychology.
go back to reference Schopler, E., Reichler, R., & Rochen Renner, B. (1986). The childhood autism rating scale (Cars) for diagnostic screening and classification of autism. New York: Irvington. Schopler, E., Reichler, R., & Rochen Renner, B. (1986). The childhood autism rating scale (Cars) for diagnostic screening and classification of autism. New York: Irvington.
go back to reference Semel, E., Wiig, E., & Secord, W. (1987). Clinical evaluation of language fundamentals – revised. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation. Semel, E., Wiig, E., & Secord, W. (1987). Clinical evaluation of language fundamentals – revised. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.
go back to reference Tager-Flusberg, H. (1999). A psychological approach to understanding the social and language impairments in autism. International Review of Psychiatry, 11, 325–334.PubMedCrossRef Tager-Flusberg, H. (1999). A psychological approach to understanding the social and language impairments in autism. International Review of Psychiatry, 11, 325–334.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Varley, R., Siegal, M., & Want, S. (2001). Severe impairment in grammar does not preclude theory of mind. Neurocase, 7, 489–493.PubMedCrossRef Varley, R., Siegal, M., & Want, S. (2001). Severe impairment in grammar does not preclude theory of mind. Neurocase, 7, 489–493.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Wellman, H. M. (1990). The child’s theory of mind. Cambridge: MIT Press. Wellman, H. M. (1990). The child’s theory of mind. Cambridge: MIT Press.
go back to reference Wimmer, H., & Perner, J. (1983). Beliefs about beliefs. Representation and constraining functions of wrong beliefs in young children’s understanding of deception. Cognition, 13, 103–128.PubMedCrossRef Wimmer, H., & Perner, J. (1983). Beliefs about beliefs. Representation and constraining functions of wrong beliefs in young children’s understanding of deception. Cognition, 13, 103–128.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Wing, L., Kim, A., & Volkmar, F. (2001). The autistic spectrum. A parents’ guide to understanding and helping your child. Pub. Group West. Wing, L., Kim, A., & Volkmar, F. (2001). The autistic spectrum. A parents’ guide to understanding and helping your child. Pub. Group West.
go back to reference Ziatas, K., Durkin, K., & Pratt, C. (1998). Belief term development in children with autism, Asperger syndrome, specific language impairment and normal development: Links to theory of mind development. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 5, 755–763.CrossRef Ziatas, K., Durkin, K., & Pratt, C. (1998). Belief term development in children with autism, Asperger syndrome, specific language impairment and normal development: Links to theory of mind development. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 5, 755–763.CrossRef
Metagegevens
Titel
Do Children with Autism have a Theory of Mind? A Non-verbal Test of Autism vs. Specific Language Impairment
Auteurs
Livia Colle
Simon Baron-Cohen
Jacqueline Hill
Publicatiedatum
01-04-2007
Gepubliceerd in
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders / Uitgave 4/2007
Print ISSN: 0162-3257
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-3432
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-006-0198-7