Essay 2_ False Beliefs

docx

School

Florida Atlantic University *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

2004

Subject

Psychology

Date

Dec 6, 2023

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by DrWillpower4040

Introduction Children's cognitive development has been a subject of great interest and research in the field of psychology. Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development suggests that children go through distinct stages, with each stage characterized by specific cognitive abilities and limitations. One of the phenomena associated with early childhood cognitive development is the emergence of false beliefs. False beliefs refer to situations where individuals hold incorrect beliefs about the world, even when evidence contradicts those beliefs. This phenomenon is often studied to understand how children perceive and interpret the world around them and how their understanding of others' perspectives develops. This study explores false beliefs in children between the ages of 3 and 4, a critical period in cognitive development. We investigate how children perceive the contents of a box, how they respond when their beliefs are challenged, and how they attribute beliefs to others who have not witnessed the same events. Method The interviews were conducted with 2 children between the ages of 3 and 4 both boys. Both participants were of Hispanic ethnicity and were recruited from friends and family. The study adhered to ethical guidelines and obtained informed consent from the parents of the participating children. The materials included a distinctive box of M&Ms (or a similar recognizable item) and a substitute object (small rubber ball) to replace the M&Ms. The children were individually brought into a quiet room and small talk was made, then a box of M&Ms was shown to each child, and they were asked, "What do you think is in this box?" The box was then opened to reveal a small rubber ball instead of M&Ms. The toy was placed back into the box, and the child

was asked, "What do you think another person (your mom), who is not in this room, would think is in this box?" Finally, the child was asked, "What did you think was in the box originally?". The study didn’t count with any limitations. Results Participant Age Original Belief Belief Attributed to Others Child A 3 Candy Ball Child B 4 Candy Candy Both children initially believed that the box contained M&Ms, as expected. However, when asked what they thought another person would believe, the 3-year-old attributed the belief of “ball” to that hypothetical person because of his developmental age, but the 4-year-old correctly replied “candy” recognizing that another person does not possess knowledge that they possess. Both children showed an appropriate response for their ages and the 4-year-old identified the discrepancy between his initial belief and what someone who did not witness the box's contents would think.

Discussion Piaget's theory of cognitive development suggests that children between the ages of 3 and 4 are in the preoperational stage, characterized by the development of symbolic thought and egocentrism. In this stage, children begin to represent objects and events through language and mental symbols but often struggle to see things from others' perspectives. However, our study demonstrates that even within this stage, children can display an understanding of false beliefs. The correct attribution of a different belief to others suggests that these children are starting to grasp the concept of mind-reading or theory of mind, the ability to understand that others may have beliefs, desires, and intentions that differ from their own. This finding aligns with research by Wellman and Liu (2004), who argued that children's false belief understanding emerges gradually during the preschool years. The application of the research to real-world scenarios is significant. Understanding the emergence of false belief understanding in young children can help educators and parents tailor their communication and teaching strategies. For example, teachers can use age-appropriate methods to explain concepts and anticipate common misconceptions that children may have. Additionally, parents can use this knowledge to foster their child's cognitive development by engaging in activities that promote perspective-taking and theory of mind. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the development of false belief understanding in children aged 3-4. Both participants demonstrated age-appropriate responses and one of them showed the ability to differentiate their own beliefs from those of others who

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

have not witnessed the same events, suggesting an emerging capacity for theory of mind. This research contributes to our understanding of cognitive development in early childhood and its implications for education and parenting.

References Wellman, H. & Liu, D. (2004). Scaling of Theory-of-Mind Tasks. In Child Development, 75(2), 523-541. https://srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2004.00691.x Wellman, H. (2017). The Development of Theory of Mind: Historical Reflections. In Child Development Perspectives , vol. 11, num. 3, 207-214. https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/138418/cdep12236.pdf

Related Documents

answer_1.docx

PSY222_Module_Two_Activity Final 8-19.docx

Module 6.docx

reflection question 7.docx

Week 1 ALM Response.pdf

filz.docx

CAREER DISPOSITIONS SELF-INVENTORY worksheet.docx

Study-Preparation20Document20(Applying20Developmental20Principles2c20Chapters206-10).pdf

HS 3610 Review Quiz (95%).pdf

HS 3610 Graded Quiz 3.pdf

HS 3610 Graded Quiz 6.pdf

PSYCH 423 Quizzes 1-8.docx

Recommended textbooks for you

Ciccarelli: Psychology_5 (5th Edition)

Psychology

ISBN:9780134477961

Author:Saundra K. Ciccarelli, J. Noland White

Publisher:PEARSON

Cognitive Psychology

Psychology

ISBN:9781337408271

Author:Goldstein, E. Bruce.

Publisher:Cengage Learning,

Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and ...

Psychology

ISBN:9781337565691

Author:Dennis Coon, John O. Mitterer, Tanya S. Martini

Publisher:Cengage Learning

Psychology in Your Life (Second Edition)

Psychology

ISBN:9780393265156

Author:Sarah Grison, Michael Gazzaniga

Publisher:W. W. Norton & Company

Cognitive Psychology: Connecting Mind, Research a...

Psychology

ISBN:9781285763880

Author:E. Bruce Goldstein

Publisher:Cengage Learning

Theories of Personality (MindTap Course List)

Psychology

ISBN:9781305652958

Author:Duane P. Schultz, Sydney Ellen Schultz

Publisher:Cengage Learning

SEE MORE TEXTBOOKS

Recommended textbooks for you

Ciccarelli: Psychology_5 (5th Edition)
Psychology
ISBN:9780134477961
Author:Saundra K. Ciccarelli, J. Noland White
Publisher:PEARSON
Cognitive Psychology
Psychology
ISBN:9781337408271
Author:Goldstein, E. Bruce.
Publisher:Cengage Learning,
Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and ...
Psychology
ISBN:9781337565691
Author:Dennis Coon, John O. Mitterer, Tanya S. Martini
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Psychology in Your Life (Second Edition)
Psychology
ISBN:9780393265156
Author:Sarah Grison, Michael Gazzaniga
Publisher:W. W. Norton & Company
Cognitive Psychology: Connecting Mind, Research a...
Psychology
ISBN:9781285763880
Author:E. Bruce Goldstein
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Theories of Personality (MindTap Course List)
Psychology
ISBN:9781305652958
Author:Duane P. Schultz, Sydney Ellen Schultz
Publisher:Cengage Learning