| dc.description.abstract | In this study, the relation between the level of understanding of Second Order Theory of Mind and Peer Popularity by pre-adolescent children (N = 78) aged 8-12 years (M = 9.93) has been explored. Second Order Theory of Mind (SO ToM) is defined as the ability to hold a belief, which is about a belief. Peer Popularity (PP) is defined as sociometric popularity. It was expected that (1) there will be a positive relation between the level of understanding of SO ToM and Peer Popularity in pre-adolescent children, (2) there will be a positive relation between performance on the Strange Stories task and Peer Popularity, (3) there will be a positive relation between performance on the Faux Pas task and Peer Popularity, (4) there will be a positive relation between performance on the False Belief questions and Peer Popularity in pre-adolescent children. The Strange Stories task and Faux Pas task were used to measure the level of understanding of SO ToM and False Belief, the Social Status rating scale was used to measure Peer Popularity. None of the hypotheses were supported. However, a significant curvilinear relation was found for performance on the SS task and PP. Separated by gender, for girls, there were significant curvilinear relations found for level of understanding of SO ToM and for performance on SS task, with PP as the dependent variable. For boys, a significant relation was found for performance on the FP task. When split into age groups, the relation for performance on the SS task was also found to be significant for both the younger and older age group. When the data was squared, significant relations for the level of understanding of SO ToM and PP, performance on the SS task, FP, FB task and PP were found. As well as a significant relation for performance on the SS task and PP. For boys, the relation between performance on the SS task, FP task and PP was found significant. For both the young an old age group, the relation between performance on the SS task and PP was found significant. Based on this study it seems that the relation between the level of understanding of SO ToM and Peer Popularity is not as straightforward and linear as it seems. | |
