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Bilingualism, Theory of Mind and Perspective-Taking: The Effect of Early Bilingual Exposure

Received: 14 November 2016     Accepted: 8 December 2016     Published: 10 January 2017
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Abstract

The present study investigates the link between bilingualism, Theory of Mind and empathy among 240 mono- and bilinguals. We hypothesize that bilinguals have better theory of mind capabilities and empathic skills. Possible explanations for this evidence of a bilingual advantage are the early exposure to a second language and/or greater inhibitory control. 240 individuals, divided into two groups, participated in this study: Hungarian-Serbian bilinguals and Hungarian monolinguals. They filled out two questionnaires, one for the language profiles and Davis’s Interpersonal Reactivity Index; and they participated in the Adult Theory of Mind test. Our hypotheses have been proven to be true. Bilinguals really have better empathic skills and the stories in the Theory of Mind test showed the difference in favor of the bilinguals, so we can assume a correlation between bilingualism, theory of mind and empathy, it is a trend and it is important for further upcoming bilingual researches.

Published in Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (Volume 5, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.pbs.20160506.13
Page(s) 143-148
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2017. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Bilingualism, Theory of Mind, Perspective-Taking, Empathy, Early Bilingual Exposure

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Rebeka Javor. (2017). Bilingualism, Theory of Mind and Perspective-Taking: The Effect of Early Bilingual Exposure. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, 5(6), 143-148. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20160506.13

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    ACS Style

    Rebeka Javor. Bilingualism, Theory of Mind and Perspective-Taking: The Effect of Early Bilingual Exposure. Psychol. Behav. Sci. 2017, 5(6), 143-148. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20160506.13

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    AMA Style

    Rebeka Javor. Bilingualism, Theory of Mind and Perspective-Taking: The Effect of Early Bilingual Exposure. Psychol Behav Sci. 2017;5(6):143-148. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20160506.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.pbs.20160506.13,
      author = {Rebeka Javor},
      title = {Bilingualism, Theory of Mind and Perspective-Taking: The Effect of Early Bilingual Exposure},
      journal = {Psychology and Behavioral Sciences},
      volume = {5},
      number = {6},
      pages = {143-148},
      doi = {10.11648/j.pbs.20160506.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20160506.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.pbs.20160506.13},
      abstract = {The present study investigates the link between bilingualism, Theory of Mind and empathy among 240 mono- and bilinguals. We hypothesize that bilinguals have better theory of mind capabilities and empathic skills. Possible explanations for this evidence of a bilingual advantage are the early exposure to a second language and/or greater inhibitory control. 240 individuals, divided into two groups, participated in this study: Hungarian-Serbian bilinguals and Hungarian monolinguals. They filled out two questionnaires, one for the language profiles and Davis’s Interpersonal Reactivity Index; and they participated in the Adult Theory of Mind test. Our hypotheses have been proven to be true. Bilinguals really have better empathic skills and the stories in the Theory of Mind test showed the difference in favor of the bilinguals, so we can assume a correlation between bilingualism, theory of mind and empathy, it is a trend and it is important for further upcoming bilingual researches.},
     year = {2017}
    }
    

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    T1  - Bilingualism, Theory of Mind and Perspective-Taking: The Effect of Early Bilingual Exposure
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    AB  - The present study investigates the link between bilingualism, Theory of Mind and empathy among 240 mono- and bilinguals. We hypothesize that bilinguals have better theory of mind capabilities and empathic skills. Possible explanations for this evidence of a bilingual advantage are the early exposure to a second language and/or greater inhibitory control. 240 individuals, divided into two groups, participated in this study: Hungarian-Serbian bilinguals and Hungarian monolinguals. They filled out two questionnaires, one for the language profiles and Davis’s Interpersonal Reactivity Index; and they participated in the Adult Theory of Mind test. Our hypotheses have been proven to be true. Bilinguals really have better empathic skills and the stories in the Theory of Mind test showed the difference in favor of the bilinguals, so we can assume a correlation between bilingualism, theory of mind and empathy, it is a trend and it is important for further upcoming bilingual researches.
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Author Information
  • Institute of Psychology, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary

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