Theory of Mind in Normal Aging

Melehin A.I.
PhD in Psychology, associate professor, Stolypin humanitarian Institute, Moscow, Russia
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5633-7639
e-mail: clinmelehin@yandex.ru

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Online translation in english

The paper highlights the importance of the key component of social cognition — theory of mind in advanced adulthood in normal aging. Thus it describes in detail the components and subcomponents of theory of mind and specifies the research techniques that can be used in empirical investigations of one's understanding of another's mind in old ages. Also, the paper reviews studies on the cognitive and affective components of theory of mind in normal aging. Some studies suggest that a theory of mind deficit in an old person should not be regarded as an isolated symptom in his/her ability to understand own mental states of those of other person.

Keywords: normal aging, advance adulthood, old age, theory of mind, social cognition

Column: Applied Research and Practice

For Reference

Melehin A.I. Theory of Mind in Normal Aging . Sotsial'naya psikhologiya i obshchestvo = Social Psychology and Society, 2015. Vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 139–150. (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.)

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