Young children embody the time of others in their time judgments: The role of the theory of mind

Abstract

This study investigated the ability of young children to embody other people's time in their time judgments. Children aged from 4 to 7 years had to learn target durations and to reproduce them with the presentation of static pictures of individuals whose posture or body shape suggested different body states (movement, movement with object, emotion, and aging). Their acquisition of an explicit theory of mind was also assessed using the Sally–Anne false belief test. All the children produced different durations as a function of perceived body states. However, the magnitude of time distortions with perceived body states was higher in children with explicit theory of mind. Our results suggest an early implicit and automatic mechanism that allows young children to integrate other people's body states into their time judgments, to be attuned to others. However, the development of the awareness of others' mental states also increases time sensitivity to their states.