A Theory of Mind (TOM) and People with Learning Disabilities: The Effects of a Training Package

Abstract

Sixteen adults from a local day centre were assessed using a first-order representation of false-belief task (Sally-Ann experiment) for their 'theory of mind' abilities (the ability to correctly reason about another's mental state). It was found that only 12.5% of participants could perform this task correctly. The study then went on to establish whether this ability could be trained, retrained andor transferred. The results showed a significant improvement in participants' performance through training, this improvement was maintained over time and participants appeared to transfer this ability to a similar task. It was concluded that this research puts further doubt on an absencelimpaired theory of mind being unique to autism. Implications were discussed in terms of social interaction and people with intellectual disabilities.

Visual and cognitive perspective-taking impairments in schizophrenia: A failure of allocentric simulation ?

“…For example, in addition to the traditional reports of poor mentalising in young children and in autistic individuals, there is now evidence of relatively poor mentalising in adults with learning disabilities (Ashcroft, Jervis, & Roberts, 1999), prelingually deaf children raised within a spoken language environment (Peterson & Siegal, 1995Russell et al 1998), children with conduct disorder (Hughes, Dunn, & White, 1998), and adults with right hemisphere and/or frontal brain damage (Bach et al, 1998;Happe , Brownell, & Winner, 1999;Siegal, Carrington, & Radel, 1996;Stone, Baron-Cohen, & Knight, 1998;Winner, Brownell, Happe , Blum, & Pincus, 1998).…”

Cybervictimization of Young People With an Intellectual or Developmental Disability: Risks Specific to Sexual Solicitation

“…Indeed, in a sample of 509 parents of a child with an ASD, 94% of the parents believed their child had been a victim of intimidation over the past year (Little 2002). All things considered, certain characteristics specific to the population with an intellectual disability or ASD put them more at risk of suffering acts of aggression (Ashcroft et al 1999). For example, limitations in the ability to predict the consequences of their actions and behaviours, as well as difficulties decoding other people's emotions, would explain this greater prevalence among people with an intellectual disability or ASD.…”

10.5937/specedreh13-5428 = Theory of mind acquisition in children and adolescents with mild intellectual disability

“…Neki istraživači saopštavaju još niža postignuća. Tako je u jednom istraživa-nju samo 29% dece i adolescenata sa IO (hronološkog uzrasta od 8 do 20 godina i verbalnog mentalnog uzrasta od 4 do 6 godina) uspešno na zadacima pogrešnog verovanja prvog reda (Charman & Campbell, 2002), dok drugo istraživanje navodi da je samo 12,5% odraslih sa IO nepoznate etiologije bilo uspešno na ovim zadacima (Ashcroft et al, 1999).…”