Developmental Brown Bag

Amanda Brandone, Doctoral Candidate - University of Michigan

Monday, November 09, 2009, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
3048  East Hall
Sponsored By: Developmental Brown Bag

Event Information

Abstract:
The commonsense understanding that human behavior is motivated by non-obvious internal causes, such intentions, thoughts, and beliefs—known as theory of mind—serves as the foundation for our ability to navigate the social world. In recent years, intriguing research on the origins and precursors of theory of mind has revealed that even infants possess considerable knowledge about others’ mental states. In this talk, I will present research examining the emergence of this knowledge in the first two years of life. First, I will present a series of studies investigating infants’ developing understanding that people’s actions are motivated by underlying intentions. Second, I will describe work I am currently conducting on infants’ and young children’s understanding of other people’s knowledge and beliefs. Results will be discussed in terms of how they help to clarify the nature and developmental course of early theory of mind.

Bio:
Amanda Brandone will complete her Ph.D. in developmental psychology at the University of Michigan in the summer of 2010.  She studies the development of conceptual knowledge during infancy and early childhood and the ways in which infants and young children move beyond what is perceptually available to reason about non-obvious properties of the world.