Abstract

This study's main objective was to determine whether the five-step theory of mind scale is associated with responses to behavioural inhibition tasks. The data collected for this were the responses to the scale given by 65 Chilean children aged three to five from medium-low socioeconomic levels, and were derived from the changing locations, happy-sad Stroop, day-night and Dimensional Change Card Sort (DCCS) tasks they carried out. Results showed that there was a significant association between the five-step theory of mind scale and behavioural inhibition (r =.28) and behavioural inhibition with the false belief task (r =.31), controlling for age, sex and language. These data support the emergence model as the best model to describe the relationship between theory of mind and behavioural inhibition. Finally, the results are discussed and future lines of study in this subject are put forward. ResumenEste trabajo tuvo como principal objetivo determinar si el rendimiento en la escala de cinco pasos de teoria de la mente se asocia con las respuestas de tareas de inhibicion conductual. Para esto, 65 ninos chilenos de tres a cinco anos de edad de nivel socioeconomico medio-bajo, contestaron la escala, ademas de la tarea de cambio de lugar, las tareas Stroop feliz-triste, dia-noche y una tarea de ordenamiento de tarjetas (DCCS). Los resultados mostraron que hubo una asociacion significativa entre la escala de cinco pasos de teoria de la mente con inhibicion conductual (r = .28) y esta ultima con la tarea de falsa creencia (r = .31), controlando por edad, sexo y lenguaje. Estos datos contribuyen a apoyar el modelo de la emergencia entre la relacion de teoria de la mente e inhibicion conductual. Finalmente, los resultados son discutidos y se sugieren futuras lineas de estudio en esta materia.