Introduction to Theory of Mind: Children, Autism and Apes [Hardcover]

Peter Mitchell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1996 | ISBN-10: 0340645903 | ISBN-13: 978-0340645901

Theory of mind is an exciting area of contemporary developmental psychology that concerns the child's developing understanding of other people as thinking beings - individuals with different perceptions, emotions and reasoning. This text focuses on the latest research in the field and integrates work carried out on adults, apes and children with autism. The author shows how children develop (or fail to develop) an understanding of the minds of others during infancy and beyond. On one hand, there are circumstances in which toddlers show a surprising insight into the minds of those around them. On the other hand, even the average adult does not always reason effectively about other peoples minds. Unfortunately, the development of an understanding of mind can run into serious difficulties, and one form of such abnormal development can be autism. The background to this socially crippling syndrome is introduced for the benefit of the non-specialist and then examined in some depth.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The writing style is engaging, precise, and helpful in following the logic of the experimental research being documented....Suitable for all undergraduates. Sections on autism and comparative primate research are fascinating in themselves and fit elegantly into the author's 'theory of mind' theme. A relevant and timely work."--Choice

"Peter Mitchell's book...demonstrates how important the topic is and gives a lucid and interesting description of what has been discovered in recent years. His account of the evolutionary origins of this understanding and its development in young children is up-to-date, comprehensive and easily comprehensible. He has a gift for conveying the excitement and ingenuity of a large number of experiments. "--Peter Peter Bryant, University of Oxford

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Peter Mitchell, Lecturer in Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Hodder Arnold Publishers (November 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0340645903
• ISBN-13: 978-0340645901
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,868,294 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Overview of Cognitive Science, December 5, 1999

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"tricita" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Introduction to Theory of Mind: Children, Autism and Apes (Paperback)

A good book for the basic overview of cognitive science. With many thorough references it offers the theories on how the autistic mind is similar and dissimilar to the mind of other primates with comparisons to normal children. It provides insight into the current trends in cognitive studies with some rebuttal to theories of consciousness and higher cognitive functioning in animals. A good beginning book for those looking to study theories on the human mind in relation to animals and consciousness.