Brain Rules for Baby (John Medina) / quote 76 of 91
Theory of Mind in six words
What is Theory of Mind? A literary example may help explain it. Ernest Hemingway was once challenged to write an entire novel in only six words, and what he wrote is a perfect illustration of Theory of Mind. That’s because when you read it, it will activate yours. For sale: Baby shoes. Never used. Do these six words make you sad? Make you wonder what happened to the person who wrote the advertisement? Can you infer that person’s mental state? Most humans can, and we use Theory of Mind skills to do it. The basis of these skills is the understanding that another’s behavior is motivated by a range of mental states—beliefs, intentions, desires, perceptions, emotions. Theory of Mind, first coined by noted primatologist David Premack, has two general components. The first is the ability to discern someone else’s psychological state. The second is the realization that although these states may be different from your own, they are still valid for the person with whom you are interacting. You develop a theory of how the other person’s mind works, even if it differs from your own.