Explain What Do Psychologists Mean By Theory Of Mind

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What do psychologists mean by ‘theory of mind?’ Discuss the claim that theory of mind is an evolved adaptation.

Evolution is a fact. Living species have changed or evolved over time. Evolutions are sometimes described as ‘survival of the fittest’. But this phrase is deceptive. It is reproduction, not survival, which is crucial. An individual that survives, but does not reproduce does not pass its genes onto the next generation. ‘Fittest’ describes how certain characteristics fit a particular environment. This essay will discuss the ‘Theory of Mind’ in accordance to the evolution of altruistic behavior.

Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution was an attempt to explain the forces that cause living species to evolve over time. Selection is ‘The survivals of characteristics that offer some advantage on the individual and the exclusion of characteristics that are unfavorable for the individual within the particular environment’ (Darwin, 1858, Pg 121). This quotation shows that selection refers to the survival of genes and not the survival of species. It is the genes that get passed on. This focus on the gene known as the ‘Selfish Gene’ was a phrase that was suggested by Richard Dawkins. This gene is well suited for the environment and enables the individual to survive, will survive into the succeeding environment. Whereas, the genes that will be less effective for surviving and less suited for the environment, will have a less chance of being passed on to future generations.

Selection is divided into two processes, Natural and Sexual selection. Natural selection suggests that the physical environment exerts selective pressure upon adaptive characteristics, which are traits (physical or behavioral) that can increase an individual’s survival potential. Thus, it enables them to better adapt to their ecological function. The adaptive characteristics are genetically transmitted, because the individual survives to reproduce and the characteristics are inherited by the offspring. This is known as survival of the fittest, where fitness is measured by the number of genes present in the next generation. Darwin’s theory of evolution by sexual selection suggests that such characteristics are due to selective pressure from the social environment. Features that denote reproductive fitness makes the individual more attractive to the opposite sex or more able to compete and so increase the individuals chance of reproduction.

This can be seen in humans. Studies of mate preference (e.g. Buss) have shown that how men from a wide range of cultures find the classic hourglass shape of young women, particularly attractive, as it is an indicator of fertility. (Workman and Reader, 2004). This study shows that men like certain women, because they know that these genes increase reproductive fitness, which will get passed onto the next generation.

Altruism is a behavior that evolution attempts to explain. Altruism is performing an act where it improves the welfare of another person, rather than the anticipation of some reward or for any other reason that might indicate self-interest. (Cardwell, 2003). Altruistic behavior seems to be universal in humans, since it is evident in both industrialized and hunter gatherer societies. (Workman and Read, 2004). The first type of altruism is the ‘kin selection’ theory. This theory implies that individuals are more apt to behave altruistically to blood relatives than to others, in the interest of passing their genes to the future generations. According to Hamilton, ‘The more closely you are related to an individual, the more motivated you should be to behave altruistically towards them’ (Hamilton, 1964, Pg 144). For example, by helping your son/brother to survive to a reproductive age, you have a probability of 50% making sure that your genes are passed on in successive generations’

A criticism of this is that there is little doubt that many social groups may have initially formed as families, so
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