ERIC Number: EJ1370730
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1740-5629
EISSN: EISSN-1740-5610
Available Date: N/A
Nonlinearities in Theory-of-Mind Development: New Evidence from Dutch and Italian Boys and Girls
Blijd-Hoogewys, Els M. A.; Bulgarelli, Daniela; Molina, Paola; van Geert, Paul L. C.
European Journal of Developmental Psychology, v19 n6 p905-924 2022
The extent to which Theory of Mind (ToM) performance is influenced by cultural and gender differences remains a subject of debate. A sample of 324 Dutch and 511 Italian children (52% boys; 2.8-11.7 years; 50% boys; 2.6-10.3 years; respectively) was administered the ToM Storybooks. Analysis focused on indicators of nonlinearity: moving standard deviations, moving skewness, and moving rate-of-change. Loess curve smoothing was used and showed local peaks in these nonlinear indicators. A first peak was found around the age of 51 months, a local minimum between 70 and 79 months, and a small peak at 85 months. The first peak was statistically significant in all groups (though timing differed in gender and culture), for two out of three nonlinear indicators phenomena, except for Dutch girls (peak 2 and 3 was significant). These results show a substantially nonlinear development regardless gender and culture, but a different timing in development.
Descriptors: Theory of Mind, Child Development, Cross Cultural Studies, Gender Differences, Cultural Differences, Foreign Countries, Developmental Stages, Cognitive Tests, Age Differences, Emotional Response, Correlation, Test Items, Longitudinal Studies
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Netherlands; Italy
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A