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Theory of mind

Flutterby

I'm told that autists do not have a 'theory of mind' and this is a reason why we get lost in conversations. But what *is* a 'theory of mind' exactly? Would it be possible to develop or learn one?

 

Parents

  • Kalo, I sympathise with you about convo content, I can't do 'small talk' either. I get the impression, though, that no matter how meaningless such idle chat seems to be to us, there is a lot going on under the surface - the subtext of a convo. This subtext seems to carry a lot of significance, but it tends to go straight over my head. I'm told that subtext is partly body language, partly cultural background (stuff you're assumed to know about). If we can't read the former and haven't absorbed the latter, no wonder we get lost!  

    longman, I'll have to look at that book. Should NTs be encouraged to read it, to find out how *our* minds work?

     

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  • Kalo, I sympathise with you about convo content, I can't do 'small talk' either. I get the impression, though, that no matter how meaningless such idle chat seems to be to us, there is a lot going on under the surface - the subtext of a convo. This subtext seems to carry a lot of significance, but it tends to go straight over my head. I'm told that subtext is partly body language, partly cultural background (stuff you're assumed to know about). If we can't read the former and haven't absorbed the latter, no wonder we get lost!  

    longman, I'll have to look at that book. Should NTs be encouraged to read it, to find out how *our* minds work?

     

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