The Theory of Mind as a mental mechanism of communicative success in preschool children

This paper shows the results of experimental research into the mental basis of children's communication from the point of coordinated activity between its members. A theory of mind (ToM) represents a mechanism of social cognition that provides communicative success between partners through understanding each partner's mentality. The following aspects of communicative success were selected for estimation: understanding of communication partner's mentality, success in constructing narratives and understanding of a sequence of events in another partner's retelling. The participants of the research were 50 children aged 4 and 6 years. The data showed the coordination between ToM development and selected communication aspects. Children of different age groups demonstrated specific skills in understanding their communication partner's mental phenomenon depending on the context of communication tasks. We obtained arguments for the statement that the success in realizing the functions of an agent and a recipient is based on understanding one's own mental mind and that of the Other. Also it provides coordination to both partners in the communication process. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.