Response Oct. 21

I believe that it is an important thing even for adults.  If as a person is not able to understand that others have beliefs, emotions, attitudes, and their own perspectives people would not be able to create relationships or even get along.  People would walk around butting heads on every little thing more than they already do.  We would probably end up having more wars and disagreements than we already do.  So having the concept that people think different and that they all have their own beliefs, feelings, and their own perspectives too helps keep people in line and disagreements down from what they could be.  Even with people understanding these things this stuff happens anyhow on a very small scale because there are hard headed people out there that think others should think and feel like they do and if there wasn’t this understanding, things would be out of control.

Theory o' Mind

The ability to recognize the perspectives of others is a pretty crucial skill for human beings to have. If one cannot recognize the thoughts, emotions or motivations of others, it will be quite difficult to form interpersonal relationships, which could affect one's ability to hold a job (depending on the job) as well as one's ability to interact with others on a daily basis. Additionally, if one cannot fathom the existence of any consciousness/emotions other than their own, then they may view their actions as relatively consequence free-- if nobody has feelings but you, you can't possibly be hurtful to others. They can't be hurt. Additionally, if you are the only one with drives/motivations, your actions are the only ones that matter, regardless of how they may affect anybody else, and your needs are the only ones that must be met. This egocentric mindset could lead to social exclusion as well as risky/dangerous behaviors in some cases (which would, of course, lead someone into further troubles with society at large).

Prompt for Oct. 21

It is important for adults to recognize other people’s perspectives so they can make informed decisions.  The world is a complex place and there is no set answer to every question so we need to listen to others perspective and establish our own decision. Our ability to ask questions and decipher information is greatly enhanced when we listen objectively to other people’s point of view.  The ability to recognize other people’s perspectives can help you achieve higher goals and growth in our professional and personal lives.  People who are unwilling to listen to other people’s opinions are often being stubborn and uncooperative.  They feel that by doing this they are being weak but in reality they are only hindering their growth.

Theory of the Mind

Theory of the mind is an astoundingly simple, yet absolutely amazing capacity of human beings. Most of us cannot fathom NOT being able to see another person's perspective or understand that they have unique thoughts and feelings. But when you consider the capacity that must entail - it is extraordinary that we develop this skill at such a young age. As important as the theory of the mind is for children, it is exponentially more vital for adults. It is easy to understand when a child has an egotistic outlook, but nearly unforgivable when an adult does. The lack of this capacity could go so far as to hinder the development of strong interpersonal relationships or reduce the ability to succeed and advance in a career possibly leading to isolation, depression, even psychopathy. A person who does not possess the theory of the mind is not only a danger to themselves but potentially to society. Just a few of the benefits of the theory of mind include the ability to connect with others at a deep level by empathizing with their thoughts and feelings and suceeding at work by being a helpful, thoughtful co-worker. Needless to say, the theory of the mind is a largely important part of nearly every aspect of life... one that has helped to shape societal structure as we know it.

Human beings are social creatures by nature.  In order to function properly as a human being, you must be able to look outside and beyond yourself.  Without theory of mind, or ability to see things from other people's perspectives, you run the risk of being a bit of an outcast.  Being ostracized produces its own barriers, including anxiety & depression.  It's a vicious cycle, as both make peace of mind quite difficult to achieve.

..... and if they laugh at you, chances are you're going to freak out at prom and light everybody on fire.    

Theory of Mind in Adults

As an adult, having a “theory of mind” is essential. Humans seem to have innate potential to expand their “theory of mind“ through social interactions and other experiences throughout life. Having a “theory of mind” includes understanding one’s own mental state and comprehending that  others may have a different state of mind, such as different intentions and  beliefs.  Understanding  others’ actions, as well as their intentions behind those actions and how other peoples’ minds and thought process differ from our own is the mastery of “theory of mind” in adults. Recognizing  the “theory of mind” of others includes taking what they may think, know, or want in to consideration in order to analyze or understand what they do or say.

Benefits to having a theory of mind include:  maintaining relationships, allowance for open-minded diverse conversation, and gaining knowledge of other mind sets.

Risks of lacking an adequate theory of mind include: closed mindedness and rigid thought process.

Theory of Mind

It is very important for all adults to have a "theory of mind" and without it, we would be egocentric. In order to understand other peoples thoughts or emotion, we use perception and logic which helps us comprehend their reasoning. Adapting to the constant changing world around us is how we assimilate and accommodate all information and processes around us and without it we would be more like a robot than a human. If we could only see things in black and white, we would miss many opportunities that we normally take advantage of on a daily basis by learning with or through, therefor, the theory of mind is essential in everyday situations. My mom would always say, "Knowledge is Power" and in my opinion, the theory of mind is both knowledge and power.

Knowing Others' Thoughts

I believe that understanding the concept that people may see things differently is a very valuable skill to have. Taking the time to ask questions and understand someone else's perspective of something may help you see it in a new way, or help you explain to them why their perspective is right or wrong.

I am going to school for Occupational Safety and Health and this is a skill that is needed in this field. Some workers may not see something as a health or safety risk and it is our job to point out to them and explain why it is a risk. If someone refuses to see it as a risk then they may not take the proper precautions. This could be dangerous to them or other people around them.

In general I feel it is good for people to be able to communicate and not be stubborn about how they perceive something. It is good for people to be open to learning new perspectives of things and not shut other people down right away based on the way they think about something.

Response to prompt of Oct 21

In regards to an adult being able to recognize the perspective of others is incredibly important.  In an argument where the ability to see the perspective of the other party could lead to a peaceful resolution.  A business negotiation where knowing the other parties wants and needs could be the difference in a successful deal or a failed attempt.  Knowledge of another's beliefs, be it religious, political, or just views on pets allow us to have a provocative conversation on a diversity of topics.  Unfortunately some people seem to lack the ability to see from another's prospective, or even recognize that another viewpoint is possible.  These adults, in my experience, tend to be a pain in the ass.  They rigidly adhere to their beliefs with an inability to even have a rational discourse as they 'know' that their belief or way is the only way.  This myopic thinking is dangerous if people with this inability end up in any position of authority.  

Prompt for Oct 21

In class we are talking a lot about having a "theory of mind." A child's ability to take the perspectives of others, discern when folks don't know things, or even the concept of telling a lie, all depend on knowing that others have their own unique thoughts. But what about adults? How important is it to understand others' thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, and perspectives? Are there benefits for having these skills? Are there risks for not having them? What do you think?