A systematic review of the evidence for impaired cognitive theory of mind in maltreated children

Xavier Benarous; Jean Marc Guilé; Angèle Consoli; David Cohen

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00108

A systematic review of the evidence for impaired cognitive theory of mind in maltreated children

Xavier Benarous, Jean Marc Guilé, Angèle Consoli, David Cohen

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

Compared to the large number of studies exploring difficulties in emotion recognition in maltreated children, few (N = 12) have explored the cognitive aspect of theory of mind (ToM), i.e., the ability to understand others' thoughts and intentions. A systematic review of these studies shows inconsistent results regarding cognitive ToM tasks. Youths with a history of maltreatment are more likely to fail at false-belief tasks (N = 2). However, results are less conclusive regarding other tasks (perspective-taking tasks, N = 4; and hostile attribution tasks, N = 7). Additionally, only one study controlled for potential psychopathology. Measures of psychopathology and other cognitive abilities, in addition to ToM, are required to establish a specific association between maltreatment and the cognitive dimension of ToM.

Original language	English
Article number	108
Journal	Frontiers in Psychiatry
Volume	6
Issue number	JUL
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00108
State	Published - 2015
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Attribution biases
Child abuse
False-belief
Maltreatment
Perspective-taking
Social cognition
Systematic review
Theory of mind

Access to Document

10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00108

Cite this

@article{1f294a1c78164e48847fe8ce1c9d316f,

title = "A systematic review of the evidence for impaired cognitive theory of mind in maltreated children",

abstract = "Compared to the large number of studies exploring difficulties in emotion recognition in maltreated children, few (N = 12) have explored the cognitive aspect of theory of mind (ToM), i.e., the ability to understand others' thoughts and intentions. A systematic review of these studies shows inconsistent results regarding cognitive ToM tasks. Youths with a history of maltreatment are more likely to fail at false-belief tasks (N = 2). However, results are less conclusive regarding other tasks (perspective-taking tasks, N = 4; and hostile attribution tasks, N = 7). Additionally, only one study controlled for potential psychopathology. Measures of psychopathology and other cognitive abilities, in addition to ToM, are required to establish a specific association between maltreatment and the cognitive dimension of ToM.",

keywords = "Attribution biases, Child abuse, False-belief, Maltreatment, Perspective-taking, Social cognition, Systematic review, Theory of mind",

author = "Xavier Benarous and Guil{\'e}, {Jean Marc} and Ang{\`e}le Consoli and David Cohen",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2015 Benarous, Guil{\'e}, Consoli and Cohen.",

year = "2015",

doi = "10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00108",

language = "English",

volume = "6",

journal = "Frontiers in Psychiatry",

issn = "1664-0640",

publisher = "Frontiers Media SA",

number = "JUL",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - A systematic review of the evidence for impaired cognitive theory of mind in maltreated children

AU - Benarous, Xavier

AU - Guilé, Jean Marc

AU - Consoli, Angèle

AU - Cohen, David

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - Compared to the large number of studies exploring difficulties in emotion recognition in maltreated children, few (N = 12) have explored the cognitive aspect of theory of mind (ToM), i.e., the ability to understand others' thoughts and intentions. A systematic review of these studies shows inconsistent results regarding cognitive ToM tasks. Youths with a history of maltreatment are more likely to fail at false-belief tasks (N = 2). However, results are less conclusive regarding other tasks (perspective-taking tasks, N = 4; and hostile attribution tasks, N = 7). Additionally, only one study controlled for potential psychopathology. Measures of psychopathology and other cognitive abilities, in addition to ToM, are required to establish a specific association between maltreatment and the cognitive dimension of ToM.

AB - Compared to the large number of studies exploring difficulties in emotion recognition in maltreated children, few (N = 12) have explored the cognitive aspect of theory of mind (ToM), i.e., the ability to understand others' thoughts and intentions. A systematic review of these studies shows inconsistent results regarding cognitive ToM tasks. Youths with a history of maltreatment are more likely to fail at false-belief tasks (N = 2). However, results are less conclusive regarding other tasks (perspective-taking tasks, N = 4; and hostile attribution tasks, N = 7). Additionally, only one study controlled for potential psychopathology. Measures of psychopathology and other cognitive abilities, in addition to ToM, are required to establish a specific association between maltreatment and the cognitive dimension of ToM.

KW - Attribution biases

KW - Child abuse

KW - False-belief

KW - Maltreatment

KW - Perspective-taking

KW - Social cognition

KW - Systematic review

KW - Theory of mind

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84940102518&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00108

DO - 10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00108

M3 - Review article

AN - SCOPUS:84940102518

SN - 1664-0640

VL - 6

JO - Frontiers in Psychiatry

JF - Frontiers in Psychiatry

IS - JUL

M1 - 108

ER -

A systematic review of the evidence for impaired cognitive theory of mind in maltreated children

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this