Sally–Anne test

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The Sally–Anne test is a psychological test used in developmental psychology to measure a person's theory of mind, which is the ability to attribute mental states—beliefs, intents, desires, emotions, knowledge, etc.—to oneself and others and to understand that others have beliefs, desires, and intentions that are different from one's own.

Overview

The Sally–Anne test is a type of false-belief task and is commonly used to assess the understanding of false beliefs in young children. It was first introduced by psychologists Heinz Wimmer and Josef Perner in 1983 and later popularized by Simon Baron-Cohen, Alan M. Leslie, and Uta Frith in 1985.

Procedure

In the test, children are introduced to two dolls, Sally and Anne. Sally has a basket, and Anne has a box. The experimenter uses the following script:

1. Sally places a marble in her basket and then leaves the room. 2. While Sally is away, Anne takes the marble from the basket and places it in her box. 3. Sally returns, and the child is asked, "Where will Sally look for her marble?"

Children who have developed a theory of mind will understand that Sally will look in her basket because she does not know that Anne has moved the marble. This demonstrates the child's ability to understand that Sally holds a false belief about the location of the marble.

Significance

The Sally–Anne test is significant in the study of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Research has shown that children with ASD often struggle with tasks that require understanding of false beliefs, indicating a delay or deficit in the development of theory of mind.

Criticism and Variations

While the Sally–Anne test is widely used, it has faced criticism for its reliance on verbal communication and its binary nature. Some researchers have developed non-verbal versions of the test or used alternative tasks to assess theory of mind in children with language impairments or other developmental disorders.

Related Concepts

• Theory of mind
• False-belief task
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Developmental psychology

See Also

• Heinz Wimmer
• Josef Perner
• Simon Baron-Cohen
• Alan M. Leslie
• Uta Frith