The Relationship Between Theory of Mind and Social Interest: A Literature Review

Theory of mind (ToM) is the ability to decode and reason about other mental states. It is used to understand and connect with others, making it important for social interactions. There is an abundant amount of research on ToM, particularly in developmental and clinical psychology. Despite this, there is little research on ToM's connection with Adlerian theory. It is argued that ToM is closely associated with social interest. Adlerian behavioral interventions attempt to increase social interest through perspective taking, which involves ToM. Despite ToM's various benefits, excessively high amounts may predict dysphoria. This finding has several implications for the conception of social interest. Thus, future research should investigate the potential connection between ToM and social interest.