Informational success of communication at different stages of theory of mind development

The study focused on the issue of cognitive bases of communicative success in preschoolers. Mental model (theory of mind) is considered as the basis of social understanding. We assume that the ability to understand and transmit messages in the communication process is mediated by the formation of mental understanding of self and others. The study involved 50 children aged 4 to 6 years, a total of 28 girls and 22 boys. We developed and tested tasks and criteria to assess the perception of the communication partner and the transmission efficiency of communication messages. The data analysis showed differences in the strategies of partner selection for communication in children of 4 and 6 years old, as well as coordinated development aspects of mind and successful communication. We conclude that socio-cognitive and informational aspects of the communicative behavior of preschool children are connected, which creates the fundamental basis for the development of their auxiliary and correction.

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