An Integrative Perspective on the link between Theory of Mind and Moral Development

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Abstract

Children become capable of moral judgments from early on in their developmental lifespan, and a notable part of this requires them to understand the mental states of others. The ability to predict the mental states of others is known as Theory of Mind (ToM), an important social and cognitive skill that allows individuals to ascertain others’ intentions, emotions and beliefs in different social contexts (Premack & Woodruff, 1978). A growing body of research has brought attention to the association between children’s ToM and their moral judgments, which can have implications for their development into adolescence as well as their understanding of morality in a complex social world (Lagattuta & Weller, 2013).
This symposium brings together international research, all focusing on highlighting the role ToM plays in morally relevant contexts across different developmental periods during childhood and adolescence. Paper 1 explores the link between performance in ToM tasks and moral judgments of socially mindful acts amongst preschoolers in China. Paper 2 presents data that examines how ToM ability predicts US children’s fairness evaluations of retaliatory actions towards conventional rule-breakers. Paper 3 investigates the relationship between group norms, ToM and intentionality in UK-based children’s and adolescents’ moral evaluations of a misinformer. Paper 4 discusses how Turkish adolescents’ ToM ability may be linked to an increased awareness of the inequalities and beliefs that can lead to prejudicial attitudes.
Altogether, this symposium offers an integrative perspective for understanding the link between ToM and moral development across childhood and adolescence, with insights from four countries.

Sub Unit

• Moral Development

Chair

• Aqsa Farooq, University Of Exeter

Individual Presentations

• The Relationship Between Preschoolers’ Understanding of Considerate Socially-mindful Actions and Theory of Mind - Presenting Author: Xin Alice Zhao, East China Normal University; Dandan Li, East China Normal University

• Forgiving and Retaliatory Responses Toward Conventional Rule Breaking: The Role of Theory of Mind - Presenting Author: Christina Sophia Marlow, North Carolina State University; Peter Strelan, University of Adelaide; Kelly Lynn S Mulvey, North Carolina State University

• Title: How Group Norms, Theory of Mind and Intentionality Influence Moral Evaluations of a Misinformer - Presenting Author: Aqsa Farooq, University Of Exeter; Anna Adlam; Adam Rutland, University Of Exeter

• Theory of Mind, Discrimination and Prejudice towards Refugees: Mediation through Egalitarian Beliefs and Perceived Inequality - Presenting Author: Seçil Gönültaş, Bilkent University; Kelly Lynn S Mulvey, North Carolina State University