Making Minds: How Theory of Mind Develops

by Henry M. Wellman

Developmental psychologists coined the term "theory of mind" to describe how we understand our shifting mental states in daily life. Over the past twenty years researchers have provided rich, provocative data showing that from an early age, children develop a sophisticated and consistent "theory of mind" by attributing their desires, beliefs, and emotions to themselves and to others. Remarkably, infants barely a few months old are able to attend closely to other humans; two-year-olds can articulate the desires and feelings of others and comfort those in distress; and three- and four-year-olds can talk about thoughts abstractly and engage in lies and trickery.

This book provides a deeper examination of how "theory of mind" develops. Building on his pioneering research in The Child's Theory of Mind (1990), Henry M. Wellman reports on all that we have learned in the past twenty years with chapters on evolution and the brain bases of theory of mind, and updated explanations of theory theory and later theoretical developments, including how children conceive of extraordinary minds such as those belonging to superheroes or supernatural beings. Engaging and accessibly written, Wellman's work will appeal especially to scholars and students working in psychology, philosophy, cultural studies, and social cognition.

Genres: Science

378 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Nancy Garon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only does Wellman provide an impressive review of the theory of mind literature, but he also weaves an elegant constructive theory of how young children come to develop concepts of others' minds. Well worth a read for students and researchers of social cognition.

[Rebecca Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Making Minds completely revolutionized how I view early childhood behavior. As a primary school teacher in Bristol, I see these cognitive shifts daily but never had the scientific vocabulary to understand them. Wellman explains the transition from simple desires to complex false beliefs with absolute clarity. It is a brilliant and highly accessible piece of developmental psychology.

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up as part of my monthly book club challenge and I am so glad I did. The section detailing how deaf children of hearing parents experience theory of mind delays was profoundly moving and eye opening. Wellman writes with a rare combination of academic authority and genuine human empathy. This should be required reading for anyone working in education.

[Paulf.Creative · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute masterpiece in cognitive development literature. Having read Wellman's 1990 work during my university days, this updated volume bridges twenty years of fresh research perfectly. The chapters exploring the evolutionary bases and neural mechanisms of how we perceive other minds are incredibly dense but deeply rewarding. It beautifully captures the magic of conceptual change in infants.

[Rodney Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers an exquisite deep dive into the architecture of the human mind. I was particularly fascinated by the discussion on how children conceptualize extraordinary or supernatural minds like superheroes. It shows that our capacity for imagination is deeply intertwined with our social cognitive development. A phenomenal read that I will be recommending to all my colleagues in Edinburgh.