Seeing Through Other Eyes: How Language Experience and Cognitive Abilities Shape Theory of Mind
Understanding others’ perspectives, or Theory of Mind (ToM), is a critical cognitive skill essential for social competence and effective interpersonal interactions. Although ToM is present in varying degrees across individuals, recent research indicates that linguistic factors, particularly bilingua...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Behavioral Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/6/755 |
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| author | Manali Pathare Ester Navarro Andrew R. A. Conway |
| author_facet | Manali Pathare Ester Navarro Andrew R. A. Conway |
| author_sort | Manali Pathare |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Understanding others’ perspectives, or Theory of Mind (ToM), is a critical cognitive skill essential for social competence and effective interpersonal interactions. Although ToM is present in varying degrees across individuals, recent research indicates that linguistic factors, particularly bilingualism, can significantly influence its expression. Building on these findings, the current study examined performance on the perspective-taking trials of the Director Task among bilinguals and monolinguals. The results showed a nonsignificant trend in accurate responses as a function of bilingualism; however, a significant effect was found when examining only perspective-taking trials, with bilinguals outperforming monolinguals, suggesting that larger sample sizes are needed to identify this effect. Interestingly, a significant interaction between fluid intelligence and bilingualism was found, suggesting that bilinguals with higher fluid intelligence performed better on perspective-taking trials compared to bilinguals with lower fluid intelligence. The results emphasize the importance of domain-general abilities for the effect of bilingualism on perspective-taking and suggest that bilingualism’s effect on ToM may be more salient in individuals with higher cognitive abilities. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d1a3f3a0b7b041cc97f03120e6417208 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-328X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Behavioral Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-d1a3f3a0b7b041cc97f03120e64172082025-08-20T02:24:31ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2025-05-0115675510.3390/bs15060755Seeing Through Other Eyes: How Language Experience and Cognitive Abilities Shape Theory of MindManali Pathare0Ester Navarro1Andrew R. A. Conway2Department of Psychology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USADepartment of Psychology, St. John’s University, Queens, NY 11439, USADepartment of Psychology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USAUnderstanding others’ perspectives, or Theory of Mind (ToM), is a critical cognitive skill essential for social competence and effective interpersonal interactions. Although ToM is present in varying degrees across individuals, recent research indicates that linguistic factors, particularly bilingualism, can significantly influence its expression. Building on these findings, the current study examined performance on the perspective-taking trials of the Director Task among bilinguals and monolinguals. The results showed a nonsignificant trend in accurate responses as a function of bilingualism; however, a significant effect was found when examining only perspective-taking trials, with bilinguals outperforming monolinguals, suggesting that larger sample sizes are needed to identify this effect. Interestingly, a significant interaction between fluid intelligence and bilingualism was found, suggesting that bilinguals with higher fluid intelligence performed better on perspective-taking trials compared to bilinguals with lower fluid intelligence. The results emphasize the importance of domain-general abilities for the effect of bilingualism on perspective-taking and suggest that bilingualism’s effect on ToM may be more salient in individuals with higher cognitive abilities.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/6/755theory of mindbilingualismsocial cognitionindividual differences |
| spellingShingle | Manali Pathare Ester Navarro Andrew R. A. Conway Seeing Through Other Eyes: How Language Experience and Cognitive Abilities Shape Theory of Mind Behavioral Sciences theory of mind bilingualism social cognition individual differences |
| title | Seeing Through Other Eyes: How Language Experience and Cognitive Abilities Shape Theory of Mind |
| title_full | Seeing Through Other Eyes: How Language Experience and Cognitive Abilities Shape Theory of Mind |
| title_fullStr | Seeing Through Other Eyes: How Language Experience and Cognitive Abilities Shape Theory of Mind |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seeing Through Other Eyes: How Language Experience and Cognitive Abilities Shape Theory of Mind |
| title_short | Seeing Through Other Eyes: How Language Experience and Cognitive Abilities Shape Theory of Mind |
| title_sort | seeing through other eyes how language experience and cognitive abilities shape theory of mind |
| topic | theory of mind bilingualism social cognition individual differences |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/6/755 |
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