Theory of mind (ToM) and empathy are separate, but related components of social understanding. However, research has not clearly defined the distinctions between them. Similarly, related constructs, such as fantasy orientation (FO), are associated with better ToM understanding; however, little is known about how FO may provide a context in which both ToM and affective empathy develop. Children between the ages of 3 and 5 (N = 82) completed a battery of ToM, empathy, and FO measures. Results demonstrated a developmental progression from ToM to affective empathy: 3-year-olds were likely to have neither, 4-year-olds were likely to have ToM only, and 5-year-olds were likely to have both. Additionally, results indicated that FO predicted affective empathy above and beyond ToM ability, suggesting that children whose play is high in fantasy are more practiced than their peers in sharing emotions. These findings are discussed in terms of how children's propensity toward fantasy play may contribute to their social development.
Brown, M. et al. (2017) Supporting the development of empathy: The role of theory of mind and fantasy orientation (Journal Article)
- Cross-sectional
- Developmental outcomes
- Pretend play
- Social cognition
- Social-emotional
Gibson, J. et al. () Making sense of social pretense: The effect of the dyad, sex, and language ability in a large observational study of children’s behaviors in a social pretend play context (Journal Article)
- Language
- Pretend play
Jaggy, A. et al. () The emergence of dyadic pretend play quality during peer play: The role of child competence, play partner competence and dyadic constellation (Journal Article)
Qu, L. et al. (2015) Teachers' Theory-of-mind Coaching and Children's Executive Function Predict the Training Effect of Sociodramatic Play on Children's Theory of Mind (Journal Article)
- Language
- Peers play
- Pretend play
Talwar, V. et al. (2011) Effects of a Punitive Environment on Children's Executive Functioning: A Natural Experiment (Journal Article)
Wan, M. et al. (2017) Child-caregiver Attachment Representations in a Non-Western Context: The Feasibility and Cultural Equivalence of Story Stems in Urban Ghana (Journal Article)
- Pretend play
- Symbolic play
- Teacher/caregiver play