Child Development
How does language shape how we think about others in childhood?
WHAT WE KNOW
The language you use when​ talking about other people with children is important. There are two types of language that are essential. The first we call 'Mental State Language', which refers to words that describes the thoughts, feelings, and desires that people might have. The second is called 'Elaborated Mental State Language' or, more simply, 'Elaborated Language', which goes further by explaining what these mental states are and how they are related to someone's behaviour.
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WHY THESE TYPES OF LANGUAGE ARE IMPORTANT
Children's ability to understand other people and develop a good 'theory of mind' about them, is influenced by the presence of this mental state language and elaborated language. The amount that parents use elaborated language when they're young can actually predict a child's understanding of how mental states influence human behaviour when they're older. In turn, the use of these types of language has been linked to successful and positive social interactions and relationships. ​​​​​​
THE PROBLEM
Parenting styles often differ by the child's gender, influenced by societal norms and stereotypes. Language used by parents is a key way they shape children's understanding of social contexts but our research shows that parents - and even non-parents - generally speak differently to boys, girls and gender-fluid children. This means we could be, without knowing it, setting some children up better than others to understand other people and have successful positive relationships with them.
Watch this 3 minute video explaining what we found:
WHAT WE FOUND OUT
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Our research showed that all adults (both parents and non-parents) used language with significantly fewer mental states with boys than with girls or gender non-conforming children.
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Additionally, all adults used far less elaborated language with gender-fluid children compared to boys or girls. This means they were far less likely to explain how mental states relate to people's behaviour when talking to a gender-fluid child.
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These findings suggest that a child's gender identity affects the kind of language they receive, which may affect how able they are in the future to understand other people's mind and behaviours, and have as positive a time socially interacting with others.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Be aware of the language you use with children. It can affect how well they will later be able to understand how other people's minds work
When talking with boys, try to use more words that describe other people's thoughts and emotions and how these things relate to their behaviour.
When talking with gender-fluid or gender non-conforming children, try to use elaborated language that explains how someone's thoughts or what someone is feeling is related to their behaviour.