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What is Theory of Mind?

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nellos121
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10 Aug 2007, 2:29 am

I'm sorry to ask such a basic question, just have no idea.



MrMacPhisto
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10 Aug 2007, 2:31 am

I'm sorry I don't have any idea either



krex
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10 Aug 2007, 2:35 am

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_mind


I dont think that they are right that AS lack theory of mind(knowing that other people have different thoughts,beliefs,experiences,needs,etc.)We know it at least intelectually.I think the problem is that they dont realize that we can not read their minds,or rather NVL and need them to tell us things with words.With out that information we have to just act as if they did have the same minds as us.I dont see why that is so hard for them to understand.


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nellos121
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10 Aug 2007, 3:36 am

Thankyou. Just didn't know.



jijin
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10 Aug 2007, 3:44 am

I _do_ know intrinsically what other people want, their motives are. HOWEVER, it's always skewed to the negative against me, which feeds paranoia (which I'm dealing with quite heavily now for work). IE "Person A is only doing this so later when they ask me to do something else more difficult it'll be easier for them. So I should be on the lookout for that other thing." I get this kind of thinking alot. As I'm normally right, or at least it can be interpreted that I was right, it feeds itself.

That's where I think mos Aspies get messed up. The way it's skewed. Whichj is why there are alot of either cynics or gullible Aspies out there.


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2ukenkerl
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10 Aug 2007, 5:50 am

jijin wrote:
I _do_ know intrinsically what other people want, their motives are. HOWEVER, it's always skewed to the negative against me, which feeds paranoia (which I'm dealing with quite heavily now for work). IE "Person A is only doing this so later when they ask me to do something else more difficult it'll be easier for them. So I should be on the lookout for that other thing." I get this kind of thinking alot. As I'm normally right, or at least it can be interpreted that I was right, it feeds itself.

That's where I think mos Aspies get messed up. The way it's skewed. Whichj is why there are alot of either cynics or gullible Aspies out there.


It IS often skewed AGAINST you. Ever hear "Looking out for number one?"? Unfortunately, aspies make an easy mark at first, etc...



jijin
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10 Aug 2007, 5:55 am

2ukenkerl wrote:
It IS often skewed AGAINST you. Ever hear "Looking out for number one?"? Unfortunately, aspies make an easy mark at first, etc...


From talks with other people though they don't feel that is what they are doing, I would have to say not everybody is out to get me and I _do_ have people I can trust.

I think I'm looking at the mechanics and game play of social interaction when I need to be looking at apparent/implicit motives, which I just don't see. I'm always confused when I can't see a motive when I know that there isn't one it's altruistic behavior.


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Cause we don?t think before we speak
And we don?t stand up for the weak
And we don?t listen to the freaks
Cause we don?t clean up our own s**t
And when refused we throw a fit
As we scream ?I don-wanna-hear-it?


thoca
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10 Aug 2007, 6:31 am

The empirical tests of ToM seem quite flawed. Many of them, such as the
false-belief task discussed in the Wiki article, ask questions that can be answered
by simple deductive reasoning based on a simple set of ground rules. My deductive
abilities were sufficient at age 4 to have have passed all
the tests, whether or not I had a comprehensive ToM. The more interesting question
to me is whether the ToM is based on intuition or a set of rules.



thoca
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10 Aug 2007, 7:04 am

You might lack a theory of mind if (YMLATOMI):

- You cannot understand why it isn't easy for everyone to solve a Rubik's cube blindfolded.
- You are incapable of predicting how you will respond emotionally to a major life decision such as
ending a long-term relationship.
- You believe that since your musician friend has perfect pitch that you must have it too --
you just need to focus on the pitches with more intensity.
- You believe that since another couple you know had little trouble adjusting to an open relationship that
you shouldn't have trouble adjusting to one either. BIG MISTAKE!
- Not only are you at a disadvantage in social situations; you don't realize that you are at a disadvantage
because others are processing far more social context than you are.
- You have always believed that everyone else was just being polite by not making a big fuss about
intolerable sounds and smells.
- You cannot develop a convincing cast of characters for a novel, because they all blur into one another.