Theory of mind as a mental basis for a communication partner perception

Abstract

The article focuses on cognitive mechanisms of communicative abilities development in preschool children. The development of theory of mind is considered as a cognitive basis for communicative capabilities in children aged 4–6. One of the objectives of the study was to investigate choice of a communication partner and thus allowed to evaluate child's understanding of his/her partner mentality. The study results show that different age groups demonstrate different specificity of perception of animate and inanimate partners (a bear, a ball, other child) and realize in different ways their understanding of mental phenomena in the context of a communicative task. The obtained data show coherence between development of communication with due regard for features of a partner and tasks on theory of mind (understanding misperception), as well as understanding of mental and physical world.