Children's Understanding of Multiple Desires

Abstract

Research concerned with children's understanding of multiple emotions (e.g. Harter, 1986) suggests that an understanding of multiple desires may be late appearing. However, evidence from the "theory of mind" tradition argues against this and suggests that such understanding should be in place by 4 or 5 years of age. The present paper addresses the issue directly, looking at understanding of successive and simultaneous desires. Three experiments involving predictions or judgements about story characters' desires are reported. Analysis of the data indicates that in contrast to earlier work on understanding of emotion, an understanding of multiple desires would appear to be present by 5 years of age, perhaps earlier. Possible sources of the discrepancy between understanding of desires and emotions are considered.