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Theory of Mind, Social Information Processing, and Children's Social Behavior

Martin, Sarah B.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1262100680

Abstract Details

2009, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, Psychology/Clinical.
Aggression and prosocial behavior have been shown to have important implications for later social adjustment for children (see Parker & Asher, 1987 for a review). Social information processing, including children's social goals, predicts children's aggressive and prosocial behaviors (Crick, 1995; Crick & Werner, 1998; Delveaux & Daniels, 2000; Dodge, 1980; Nelson & Crick, 1999). Less is known about whether another social cognitive variable, theory of mind, relates to children's social behaviors. The current study sought to elucidate the relations among theory of mind, social goals, and children's teacher-, peer-, and self-rated physical aggression, relational aggression, and prosocial behavior. Seventy children between the ages of 8 to 10 completed measures of theory of mind and social goals, and rated themselves and their peers on social behaviors. Their teachers also completed ratings for each child's aggressive and prosocial behavior. Results indicated that theory of mind skills and social goals are related in some instances to physical aggression, relational aggression, and prosocial behavior. However, the source of the rating (i.e., teacher, peer or self), especially in regards to relational aggression, conditioned the results. There were also gender differences. Further research should take gender and the rater into consideration, as well as other potentially important aspects of social information processing in the prediction of children's aggression and prosocial behavior. It also is important to examine other types of aggressive behavior, such as verbal aggression.
Eric Dubow (Advisor)
Dara Musher-Eizenman (Committee Co-Chair)
Molly Laflin (Committee Member)
Mary Hare (Committee Member)
150 p.
Psychology
theory of mind; social information processing; physical aggression; relational aggression; prosocial behavior; children's social behaviors

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Martin, S. B. (2009). Theory of Mind, Social Information Processing, and Children's Social Behavior [Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1262100680

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Martin, Sarah. Theory of Mind, Social Information Processing, and Children's Social Behavior. 2009. Bowling Green State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1262100680.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Martin, Sarah. "Theory of Mind, Social Information Processing, and Children's Social Behavior." Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1262100680

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1262100680
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© 2009, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.