Korean Journal of Child Studies (아동학회지)

Korean Association of Child Studies (한국아동학회)
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Relations Between Mothers' and Preschoolers' Use of Mental State Terms During Pretend Play and Preschoolers' Mental State Terms in Hypothetical Narratives

가상놀이에서 어머니와 유아가 사용하는 마음상태 용어와 가상적 내러티브에서 유아가 사용하는 마음상태 용어 간 관계

  • Shin, Nana (Department of Child Development, Ewha Womans University) ;
  • Kim, Soyoung (Department of Child Development, Ewha Womans University)
  • 신나나 (이화여자대학교 아동학과) ;
  • 김소영 (이화여자대학교 아동학과)
  • Received : 2016.02.29
  • Accepted : 2016.04.22
  • Published : 2016.04.30
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Abstract

Objective: This research examined mothers' and preschoolers' uses of mental state terms during pretend play and linked such use to children's independent mental state terms used in hypothetical narratives. Methods: Fifty four-year-olds and their mothers were engaged in pretend play and the preschoolers were asked to provide hypothetical narratives. Mothers' and preschoolers' mental state terms were analyzed in terms of types and frequencies. Results: During pretend play, the mothers and preschoolers used desire state terms most variously and frequently, followed by cognitive and emotion state terms. In the hypothetical narratives, the preschoolers used desire state terms most variously and frequently; however they talked about emotion state terms more variously and cognitive state terms more frequently. In addition, the mothers' mental state terms were correlated with the preschoolers' mental state terms during the pretend play, and the mothers' and preschoolers' uses of mental state terms during pretend play were related to the preschoolers' mental state terms in hypothetical narratives. Conclusion: Findings from this study highlight that, during the preschool period, a mothers' mental state language might foster her child's understanding of mental states in himself/herself and in others.

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References

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