The relationship of preschoolers\' understanding of mind and their suggestibility

ABSTRACT

The purposes of this study were to investigate the relationship of preschoolers\' understanding of mind and their suggestibility. Subject were fifty-nine 4-year-olds and fifty-four 6-year-olds recruited from three day-care centers in Seoul and Kyonggi province. Each preschooler participated in suggestibility assessment session and completed a set of understandimg of mind. Statistical methods used for data analysis were frequencies, percentiles, means, standard deviations, Pearson\'s correlations, t-test. Major findings were as follows. First, there were significant differences in preschooler\'s understanding of mind according to age. 6-year-olds showed higher understanding of mind than 4-year-olds. Second, there were significant differences in preschooler\'s suggetibility according to age. 4-year-olds showed higher suggestibility than 6-year-olds. Third, preschoolers\' suggestibility was negatively related to their understanding of mind, but its relationship was showed differently according to age. 4-year-olds negatively related to their understanding of mind, however 6-year-olds didn\'t show significant relation between their suggestibility and understanding of mind