Studying Theory of Mind through Relational Frame Theory: A review of the literature on deictic relational responding

Abstract

The concept of Theory of Mind refers to our ability to infer mental states (beliefs, emotions or intentions) in order to predict and explain our own and others’ behavior. Whereas this phenomenon has been the subject of an important number of publications in cognitive psychology for the past 25 years, behavior analysis has only recently begun to show a direct interest in this topic, under the rubric of Relational Frame Theory (RFT). RFT accounts for the development of language and higher cognition in terms of learned generalized patterns of relational responding referred to as arbitrary relational responding (ARR). According to RFT, at the core of Theory of Mind lie perspective-taking skills, which are underpinned by a specific class of arbitrary relational responses, namely deictic relations. The current paper provides a review of the RFT deictic relations literature and contrasts this approach to the main cognitive models in the area (Theory-Theory; Simulation Theory; Minimalist innate modularity; links with syntactical competencies). Findings from RFT studies have demonstrated trends in the acquisition of deictic relations compatible with trends in the traditional Theory of Mind literature. Additionally, assessments in populations known for their difficulties in the attribution of mental states (autism, schizophrenia, social anhedonia) have demonstrated impairments in deictic relations. Finally, several studies have successfully trained deictic relational repertoires in children who were pre-experimentally deficient. Considered as a whole, these first results are promising and show the relevance and utility of a functional analysis of a concept studied first in cognitive psychology.