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# The Early Development of Conceptual Perspective Taking: Distinguishing among Multiple Perspectives

## Details

**Authors** Marvin et al.

**Year** 1976

**Publisher** Child Development

**Discipline** Human Development

[Read it at the publisher](https://doi.org/10.2307/1128810) 
10.2307/1128810

## In authors' words

### Abstract

Robert S. Marvin, Mark T. Greenberg, Daniel G. Mossler, The Early Development of Conceptual Perspective Taking: Distinguishing among Multiple Perspectives, Child Development, Vol. 47, No. 2 (Jun., 1976), pp. 511-514

### What they set out to do (purpose)

To research the development of conceptual Perspective taking in the early years of life.

### What they found (results)

Through their research, they determined that conceptual Perspective taking occurred in children as young as 4 years old.

## Commentary

### In short

Children were not just able to take the Perspective of one individual but were able to take the Perspectives of up to three individuals.

### In more detail

Earlier research into perspective taking focused on the development of theory of mind, which is simply the ability to attribute beliefs, thoughts or feelings to another person (take another’s perspective). Marvin et. al. 1976 researched the development of conceptual Perspective taking in the early years of life. They identified two types of Perspective taking: perceptual and conceptual. They define conceptual Perspective taking as, “an inference a child makes regarding those less tangible aspects of another's internal experience such as his thoughts, desires, attitudes, plans.” At this point, both types of Perspective taking had been thought to develop at around 7 years old. However, through their research, they determined that conceptual Perspective taking occurred in children as young as 4 years old. Remarkably, they were not just able to take the Perspective of one individual but were able to take the Perspectives of up to three individuals.

**Patterns it shows** P

**How to cite this** Marvin et al. (1976). The Early Development of Conceptual Perspective Taking: Distinguishing among Multiple Perspectives. Child Development.