Elsevier

Cognition

Volume 77, Issue 1, 16 October 2000, Pages B25-B31
Cognition

Brief article
Two reasons to abandon the false belief task as a test of theory of mind

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0010-0277(00)00096-2Get rights and content
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Abstract

The false belief task has often been used as a test of theory of mind. We present two reasons to abandon this practice. First, passing the false belief task requires abilities other than theory of mind. Second, theory of mind need not entail the ability to reason about false beliefs. We conclude with an alternative conception of the role of the false belief task.

Keywords

Cognitive development
False belief task
Theory of mind

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