Steps in Theory-of-Mind Development in Hong Kong Cantonese-Speaking Children with and without Autism
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| Title: | Steps in Theory-of-Mind Development in Hong Kong Cantonese-Speaking Children with and without Autism |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Chi-Hang Cheung, Candice (ORCID |
| Source: | Journal of Cognition and Development. 2022 23(5):732-750. |
| Availability: | 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 |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 19 |
| Publication Date: | 2022 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Elementary Education Early Childhood Education Kindergarten Primary Education |
| Descriptors: | Theory of Mind, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Young Children, Perspective Taking, Cognitive Development, Cognitive Processes, Foreign Countries, Child Development, Beliefs, Emotional Response, Knowledge Level, Asian Culture, Cultural Influences, Sino Tibetan Languages, Western Civilization, Students with Disabilities, Elementary School Students, Kindergarten |
| Geographic Terms: | Hong Kong |
| Assessment and Survey Identifiers: | Reynell Developmental Language Scales |
| DOI: | 10.1080/15248372.2022.2100397 |
| ISSN: | 1524-8372 1532-7647 |
| Abstract: | It has been debated whether the progressive emergence of theory of mind (ToM) in autistic children is compatible with a "delayed" or "different" development model, and whether and how the sequential consolidation of ToM concepts is subject to cross-cultural variations in autistic and typically developing (TD) children. To study these questions, we examined ToM development in autistic children and TD children in Hong Kong (HK). Using an established five-step ToM scale, we measured five ToM abilities in 37 autistic children (M = 6.41 years) and 142 TD children (M = 5.81 years); the two samples were equivalent on verbal mental age. We found that the development of ToM abilities was delayed in autistic children relative to TD children. Moreover, the developmental sequence of ToM of autistic children also differed from that of TD children. Specifically, the sequence observed in autistic children was knowledge access (KA) > diverse desires (DD) > diverse beliefs (DB) > false belief (FB) > hidden emotion (HE), while TD children acquired DD before KA. Additionally, both autistic and TD children in HK mastered KA before DB like their peers from other Eastern countries, but in contrast to Western children who reportedly develop DB earlier than KA. This suggests that HK children are strongly influenced by Eastern culture despite growing up in an East-meets-West society |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2023 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1369609 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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| Abstract: | It has been debated whether the progressive emergence of theory of mind (ToM) in autistic children is compatible with a "delayed" or "different" development model, and whether and how the sequential consolidation of ToM concepts is subject to cross-cultural variations in autistic and typically developing (TD) children. To study these questions, we examined ToM development in autistic children and TD children in Hong Kong (HK). Using an established five-step ToM scale, we measured five ToM abilities in 37 autistic children (M = 6.41 years) and 142 TD children (M = 5.81 years); the two samples were equivalent on verbal mental age. We found that the development of ToM abilities was delayed in autistic children relative to TD children. Moreover, the developmental sequence of ToM of autistic children also differed from that of TD children. Specifically, the sequence observed in autistic children was knowledge access (KA) > diverse desires (DD) > diverse beliefs (DB) > false belief (FB) > hidden emotion (HE), while TD children acquired DD before KA. Additionally, both autistic and TD children in HK mastered KA before DB like their peers from other Eastern countries, but in contrast to Western children who reportedly develop DB earlier than KA. This suggests that HK children are strongly influenced by Eastern culture despite growing up in an East-meets-West society |
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| ISSN: | 1524-8372 1532-7647 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/15248372.2022.2100397 |
