Baron-Cohen S, O'Riordan M, Stone V, Jones R, Plaisted K
Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
J Autism Dev Disord. 1999 Oct;29(5):407-18. doi: 10.1023/a:1023035012436.
Most theory of mind (ToM) tests are designed for subjects with a mental age of 4-6 years. There are very few ToM tests for subjects who are older or more able than this. We report a new test of ToM, designed for children 7-11 years old. The task involves recognizing faux pas. Study 1 tested 7-9, and 11-year-old normal children. Results showed that the ability to detect faux pas developed with age and that there was a differential developmental profile between the two sexes (female superiority). Study 2 tested children with Asperger syndrome (AS) or high-functioning autism (HFA), selected for being able to pass traditional 4- to 6-year level (first- and second-order) false belief tests. Results showed that whereas normal 9- to 11-year-old children were skilled at detecting faux pas, children with AS or HFA were impaired on this task. Study 3 reports a refinement in the test, employing control stimuli. This replicated the results from Study 2. Some patients with AS or HFA were able to recognize faux pas but still produced them. Future research should assess faux pas production.
大多数心理理论(ToM)测试是为心理年龄在4至6岁的受试者设计的。针对年龄更大或能力更强的受试者的ToM测试非常少。我们报告了一项新的ToM测试,专为7至11岁的儿童设计。该任务涉及识别失礼行为。研究1测试了7至9岁以及11岁的正常儿童。结果表明,检测失礼行为的能力随年龄发展,并且两性之间存在不同的发展模式(女性优势)。研究2测试了患有阿斯伯格综合征(AS)或高功能自闭症(HFA)的儿童,这些儿童被挑选出来是因为他们能够通过传统的4至6岁水平(一阶和二阶)错误信念测试。结果表明,虽然正常的9至11岁儿童擅长检测失礼行为,但患有AS或HFA的儿童在这项任务上存在缺陷。研究3报告了该测试的一项改进,采用了对照刺激。这重复了研究2的结果。一些患有AS或HFA的患者能够识别失礼行为,但仍会做出失礼行为。未来的研究应该评估失礼行为的产生情况。