Components of ToM develop from young age: 9m: Action understanding, 9-14m: Protodeclarative pointing (pointing make someone look to where pointing to) (Bates et al, 1979), 12m: sensitive to where person is looking, & understand sig of eyes (Brooks & Meltzoff, 2002) – Gaze, 14m: keen to est joint/shared attention, 18m: concern at distress of others
Some researchers claim that understanding of false belief develops earlier than 4 years, but that traditional false belief tasks are too hard for younger children to pass. E.g., Issues of lang comprehension & expression. Child can’t pass unless y understand question. Requires relatively complex responses from child. Requires child to remember details of story