Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-17T08:13:04.046Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The internalization of mental state discourse contributes to social understanding

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2004

Douglas K. Symons*
Affiliation:
Psychology Department, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia B4P 2R6, Canadahttp://ace.acadiau.ca/science/psyc/dsymons/

Abstract:

Children's exposure to and participation in mental state discourse contributes to their development of social understanding. Vygotsky's mechanism of internalization is used to account for this process, which has advantages of cultural and linguistic universality. If children internalize mental state discourse, however, then their own use of mental state language should be related to social understanding.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2004

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)