Early Manifestations of Children's Theory of Mind: The Roles of Maternal Mind-Mindedness and Infant Security of Attachment

Infancy : the Official Journal of the International Society on Infant Studies
Jessica LaranjoStephanie M Carlson

Abstract

This study investigated two aspects of mother-child relationships-mothers' mind-mindedness and infant attachment security-in relation to two early aspects of children's theory of mind development (ToM). Sixty-one mother-child dyads (36 girls) participated in testing phases at 12 (T1), 15 (T2), and 26 months of age (T3), allowing for assessment of maternal mind-mindedness (T1), infant attachment (T2), and child ToM understanding (T3). Results indicated that children's understanding of discrepant desires and visual perspectives was positively related to their mothers' earlier use of appropriate mind-related comments in certain contexts. Furthermore, more securely attached boys, but not girls, performed better on a task requiring comprehension of their mothers' visual perspective. Hence, the links previously found between competent parenting and older children's ToM performance appear to extend, to a certain degree, to toddlers' first manifestations of ToM understanding.

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Citations

Mar 1, 2011·Infancy : the Official Journal of the International Society on Infant Studies·Elizabeth MeinsSusan R Leekam
Jul 16, 2014·Development and Psychopathology·Mark WadeJennifer M Jenkins
Jul 29, 2015·The British Journal of Developmental Psychology·Elizabeth KirkBen C Fletcher
Aug 20, 2011·Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry·Tansy M WalkerPaul M Camic
Aug 5, 2020·Infancy : the Official Journal of the International Society on Infant Studies·Chiara GiovanelliLucia Carli
Jul 15, 2015·Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines·Luna C M CentifantiCharles Fernyhough
Apr 13, 2017·Development and Psychopathology·Robin SchachtSusan Pawlby
Jul 21, 2017·Current Psychology·Minna T LyonsEmily J Bethell
Feb 6, 2020·Frontiers in Psychology·Cindy BeaudoinMiriam H Beauchamp
Jul 18, 2020·Child and Adolescent Mental Health·Amanda VentaSuzanne Mouton-Odum
Jan 10, 2013·Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology·Elizabeth MeinsSarah Fishburn
May 7, 2014·The Journal of Genetic Psychology·Rebecca A Dore, Angeline S Lillard
Jan 1, 2019·Infancy : the Official Journal of the International Society on Infant Studies·Fionnuala LarkinSusan R Leekam
Mar 18, 2021·Attachment & Human Development·Daphna G Dollberg

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