Abstract
Basic research on the development of theory of mind (ToM) has influenced clinical research and practice concerning developmental disabilities, and studies of clinical cases have contributed to progress in basic research which investigates the developmental foundations of ToM. This paper first reviews the influence of the concept of ToM as related to meta-representation processing, which may explain the social and communication problems associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) from a cognitive viewpoint in research on developmental disabilities. This work raises the question of the applicability range of the ToM concept. Secondly, an ‘Animated Version of ToM Test' developed by Fujino (2002, 2005) is suggested here to be a valid measure. On the basis of the data collected using this tool, a discussion followed with regard to the developmental trend of ToM in school-aged ASD children and the relationship between acquisition of ToM and language abilities. The effectiveness and limitations of the two approaches used in developmental support for ToM, and problems of ToM acquisition and mental health were next discussed. Finally, a critical argument from the standpoint of the individual with ASD is provided regarding the concept of ToM.
