Theory of Mind: A Theoretical Approach

Theory of Mind (ToM) is one of the social cognition domains. It is defined as an heterometacognitive capacity that allows to recognize and infer people's mental states (intentions, beliefs, desires, etc.). This function enables the understanding and prediction of others' behavior so we can act in a safe way considering the possible effects of our behavior on the social environment. Although its study dates from the last decade of the ninth century, the term is attributed to the primatologists Premack and Woodruff, who proved that chimpanzees possess a ToM that allows them to understand human beings; subsequently, the discovery of the mirror neurons in the human brain made it possible to establish the neurophysiological correlates. ToM has been considered as trascendental in development of social-emotional skills, even proposing its dysfunction as a possible endophenotype of various neuropsychiatric diseases. The objective of this theoretical essay is to conceptualize the ToM by addressing its historical antecedents, explanatory theories, developmental milestones, neuroanatomical correlates, and evaluation methods.