Effect of short film on theory of mind

Pavlović, Luka. (2018). Effect of short film on theory of mind. Diploma Thesis. Filozofski fakultet u Zagrebu, Department of Psychology. [mentor Rebernjak, Blaž].

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Abstract

Prior research has shown short-term improvement in Theory of Mind after watching an episode of an award-winning TV drama and its absence after watching an episode of a documentary show. A correlation of exposure to fiction and Theory of Mind has also been found. The aim of this research was to examine the effect of film genre on Theory of Mind and to explore the relationship of Theory of Mind with empathy and exposure to film. 147 students participated in the study (99 female and 48 male), most of whom study at the Faculty of humanities and social sciences in Zagreb. Mean age of participants was 22.08 years. Participants were randomly assigned to watch either a short drama or documentary film, both lasting around 6 and a half minutes. Then they took Reading the mind in the eyes test, Exposure to film test constructed for the purposes of this study, Perspective taking scale (cognitive empathy) and Empathic concern scale (affective empathy). No difference was found between participants who watched the drama and the documentary film, potential reasons are discussed. Expected gender differences in affective empathy, favoring women, and no differences (also expected) in cognitive empathy were found. Expected higher score on Reading the mind in the eyes test in female participants was not found. We also didn't find the expected correlation between Theory of Mind and cognitive empathy. Theory of Mind was correlated with exposure to film in female participants while no correlation was found in male participants.

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