If your a parent of a child with Asperger's disorder, or high functioning autism, or even an adult yourself with Asperger's disorder, you have likely heard the term Theory of Mind. We all have a theory of mind, of how our mind works, and how the minds of others work. Professor Robert Seyfarth from the University of Pennsylvania talks briefly on how the early years of child development are when we learn to form the basics of a theory of the mind in the video blow. With time and age we change and refine our theory as we try to account for the complexity of social interactions. I often explain the problem that happens as not getting feedback information because you need to understand that the other person, and how they are reacting to you, is not just telling you about them, but about you, and how you are seen by them. It is through the eyes of others we learn to change our behaviour. This is often the missing component with children, adolescents and adults with Aspergers and related deficits of social cognition.
Here is an excellent explaination from the Richard Dawkin's Foundation on what Theory of Mind is. Click here: http://richarddawkins.net/videos/471561-theory-of-mind
In the second video Rebeca Saxe speaks about "reading" other people's minds, and shows a wonder video demonstrating this idea. Click here:http://www.ted.com/talks/rebecca_saxe_how_brains_make_moral_judgments.html
If your having difficulty explain Aspergers to your friends, teachers, relatives or others, these simple videos may help.
Dr. Jim Roche
www.socialcognitivetherapy.com
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