Deaf and hearing children's development of theory of mind, peer popularity, and leadership during middle childhood

Journal of Experimental Child Psychology
Candida PetersonHenry M Wellman

Abstract

This study had two primary aims. First, we compared deaf and hearing children during middle and late childhood on (a) cognitive understanding of basic and advanced theory of mind (ToM) and (b) social dimensions of peer group relations, including popularity, isolation, leadership, and the disposition to interact positively with peers. Second, using correlational analyses, we examined ToM's connections with these social variables to see whether and how ToM impacts children's social lives. A total of 57 children (36 deaf children of hearing parents and 21 hearing children) 6 to 14years of age completed a 6-step developmental ToM Scale, and their teachers reported on the social variables. Hearing children outperformed deaf children on ToM and all teacher-rated variables. For deaf children, popularity correlated positively, and social isolation correlated negatively, with ToM even after controlling for age, gender, and language ability. For hearing children, the only ToM link was a weak correlation with leadership. Possible reasons for the differences between deaf and hearing groups are discussed, together with the likelihood of bidirectional causal links and implications for deaf children's social development in school.

Citations

Sep 26, 2019·The British Journal of Developmental Psychology·Susanne Koerber, Christopher Osterhaus
Feb 13, 2020·Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education·E TerlektsiColin R Kennedy
Feb 25, 2020·Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education·Mario FigueroaNúria Silvestre
Apr 17, 2018·Child Development·Candida C Peterson, Henry M Wellman
Feb 5, 2019·Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education·Jian Hao, Chunsha Wu
May 16, 2020·Deafness & Education International : the Journal of the British Association of Teachers of the Deaf·L C WongM Gunnourie
Oct 3, 2018·PloS One·Joanna SmogorzewskaPaweł Grygiel
Dec 15, 2020·Psychological Science·Chi-Lin YuAmy R Lederberg
Dec 31, 2020·Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education·Parinya SiriattakulCandida C Peterson
Mar 25, 2021·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·Helen PhillipsAnn Le Couteur
Jun 29, 2021·Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education·Agnieszka PlutaMaciej Haman
Nov 10, 2021·The Journal of Genetic Psychology·Susanne Koerber, Christopher Osterhaus

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