Theory of the Mind

Theory of the mind is a concept described as the ability to attribute feelings, thoughts, beliefs and knowledge to other individuals. It is a skill that typically developing children acquire around the ages of 5 or 6. According to the film, some researchers have discovered that many individuals on the ASD spectrum do not have the ability to attribute mental states to others; therefore, theory of the mind could be a useful tool when assessing ASD individuals. As a behaviorist, I could not see myself using the theory of the mind to assess people on the ASD spectrum because it is a mental state that cannot be observed or measured. Although I do understand the concept and why some people might use it during assessments, It is not a tool that I would find valuable.