A variety of human interactions – taking part in discourse, understanding stories, teaching and taking part in social play- are related to a unique cognitive ability called “Theory of Mind”. This ability allows us to stand in someone else’s shoes and see the world through their eyes, to infer others’ state of knowledge and predict their behavior.

The course will introduce theoretical understandings and empirical research that explain and reveal the importance of this ability from various perspectives. We will discuss the relevance of this ability to the social-emotional development of children and youth.