Maternal depression and children’s false belief understanding

Children of depressed mothers show substantial social impairment, which increases their risk for developing depression. Theory of mind understanding forms the basis of social functioning, and is impaired in children of currently depressed mothers. Models of risk emphasize that a history of any maternal depression confers risk to later psychopathology. Therefore, we tested a novel model of the impact of lifetime maternal depression on children’s false belief understanding that accounts for three primary factors that scaffold this understanding: maternal mental state talk, and children’s executive functioning and language abilities. Children aged 41–48 months with a maternal lifetime history of major depressive disorder (MDD; n = 19) performed significantly more poorly on the false belief battery compared to those without (n = 44). Further, lower levels of mental state talk, child executive functioning, and child language ability were significantly associated with poorer false belief scores. However, the relation between maternal MDD and children’s false belief performance was not mediated by any of these factors. These results indicate that maternal depression predicts poorer false belief understanding independently of other crucial scaffolding variables, and may be a social cognitive mechanism underlying the intergenerational transmission of depression.     

‘Miss mum’: mind and affective experience of Korean learners identified with autism spectrum and cognitive difficulties

Responding to the call for culturally informed research on autism spectrum (AS) to allow for the provision of appropriate services, this paper qualitatively explores the affective experience of five Korean learners identified with AS and cognitive difficulties by listening to their voices. The learners, supported by the use of visual aids and a choice of their preferred mode of communication, expressed the complexity of their inner experience that encompassed abilities as well as difficulties. The findings highlight the commonalities of experience between Korean and non-Korean individuals with AS, along with some aspects specific to the Korean cultural context.     

More on the ontological status of autism and double empathy

This response to Milton’s recent article on the ontological status of autism and double empathy also explores, through the lens of ‘double empathy’ and ‘theory of mind’, the issues of relationality and interaction that researchers in the fields of cognitive neuroscience and psychology hardly acknowledge. I go on to consider Wittgenstein’s criteriological view of mind, propose a synthesis of theory to describe autism, and suggest that public criteria of a non-autistic ontology enable many autistic people to eventually develop the understanding of other (non-autistic) minds that, in turn, enables them to survive, and even thrive.     

Theory of mind: are there wider implications from working with d/Deaf people?

An exploratory teaching approach was inspired by the communicative experiences of d/Deaf students in tertiary education. ‘Theory of Mind’ has been used by some to describe the capacity to appreciate that views of others may be different from our own, a concept that could provide a different way for students and educators to understand the barriers identified. An adapted assessment highlighted challenges faced and a communication group provided opportunities for extending personal understandings of social settings. Emerging ideas to inform practice and potential implications for inclusion have relevance for other contexts.     

元代玉山雅集诗序探微

以顾瑛为核心的玉山草堂雅集是元代最具代表性的文人雅集，学界虽不乏相关研究成果，但对相关诗序文献均未给予重视。文中从诗序这一独特视角对顾瑛玉山雅集进行观照，以拓展、加深对其认知：以诗序为据，梳理历次玉山雅集活动系年、场所、人员及主要活动内容；玉山雅集诸方面超越前代，分韵赋诗是玉山雅集文学活动的核心形制；玉山雅集诗序是折射元末文人心态及时代变化的一面镜子。     

涧水心理咨询理论的意志维度研究

涧水疗法中的意志维度可以分为思想和行动两极,其中思想为阴,行动为阳。思想一极的内容,包括梳理当事人的思想,发现问题的另一面,修正当事人的思想等三方面;行动一极,包括评估已有的应对方式,减少无效的应对方式和增加有效的应对方式等三方面。在咨询中,思想和行动是一个有机的整体,它们都是为了保障当事人内心欲望演出的和谐与有序。心理咨询是一门对话的艺术,咨询师可在意志的阴阳两极之间自由穿梭,在两极之中任何一个小的侧面之间自由穿梭。     

对中国高铁的战略思考

中国高铁是改革开放创造的奇迹,高铁的成功实践给人们带来诸多思考和启示,最重要的是把握解放思想这一大法宝,从传统的思维方法、人才观念、领导观念和对高铁功能的认识等思维定势中解放出来,树立世界眼光,培育创新型人才,提高战略领导力,催生战略战术变革,为振兴中华,推动社会、经济、军事等方面的科学发展提供指导。     

简论中国古典唱论“唱心说”的美学价值

中国古典唱论中的“唱心说”,强调了歌唱对情感表达的重要性,强调了情声并茂的美学思想。强调人身乐器无与伦比的艺术感染力。这些理论在今天的声乐表演中仍有很强的现实意义,需要我们在演唱实践中予以继承、发展和创新。     

从孟、告之辨看孟子的“不动心”——兼论孟子的“心”、“气”、“言”之逻辑关系

孟子所说的心是指人生来就有的、与非人相区别的、以＂不忍人之心＂为核心、沿着＂四端＂向＂四德＂不断充扩的向善之心。孟子的不动心是指尽心知性以知天、存心养性以事天的向度不可动摇。此心虽然生而具有,但并非圆满自足,须通过意识自由和行为自觉缓慢培养,令其渐次成长,连续不断,由小到大,以止于至善。心之所向叫志,坚持此志不变,叫＂持志＂,＂夫志,气之帅也,气,体之充也……志壹则动气,气壹则动志＂,二者互为制约,须＂持其志,勿暴其气＂,所以孟子主张养气。告子的不动心是指接受了某种外在律令,将心托付于此,从而信念坚定,不再改变。这种外在律令缺少人性基础,往往以＂言＂的形式出现,是非曲直难辨,所以孟子提倡知言。知言以持志为依据,养气以至善为目标,持志为心之所向,至善为心之所成,如此,则心、言、气之关系明矣。     

黑格尔与法的形而上学的完成

西方近代法哲学本质上是法的形而上学,而这种形而上学是由黑格尔最终完成的。黑格尔在绝对精神和思辨辩证法的基地上为法奠定了更牢固的形而上学基础。黑格尔在绝对精神的基础上实现了自然法与实在法、道德与法律、权力与权利、自由与法的统一。黑格尔依据＂国家是伦理的现实＂的观点,对现代法或权利做出了新的理解。黑格尔的法哲学标志着近代法的形而上学的完成。