Analysis of the Theory of Mind Indicators in Children from Biological Families and a Baby Home

Abstract

The current study addressed the role of different social contexts in theory of mind development, specifically whether the structure of the theory of mind indicators in the group of institutionalized children was different from the structure of indicators in the group of children from biological families. The relevant to the theory of mind items of the personal-social scale of the Battelle Developmental Inventory (Newborg et al., 1988) provided by expert assessors in communication with primary caregivers were used to assess young children reared in so-cially-emotionally depriving institutional environment (n = 50; M = 2.18, SD = 0.92 years) and in biological families (n = 50; M = 2.37, SD = 0.92 years). Results suggested between-group differences in the factor structure for the theory of mind indicators. The first factor for rating of children from families reflected competent understanding of the close adult, selfunderstanding, and understanding of peers and feelings towards them, while there was no such combination found in factors for rating of institutionalized children. The findings are discussed in relation to the research data how social environment shapes understanding of mental states by children. Results suggest significant difficulties in the complex and competent theory of mind formation in institutional socio-emotional environment, and emphasize the need of the training plus structural changes intervention program aimed to improve the sensitivity and consistency of primary caregiving environment for young institutionalized children. The findings indicate that information from primary caregivers might be used to study the theory of mind in children, and that the factor structure of the theory of mind indicators reflects the specificity of children's social-emotional environment.