Role-taking theory

Role-taking theory (or social perspective taking) is the social-psychological concept that one of the most important factors in facilitating social cognition in children is the growing ability to understand others’ feelings and perspectives, an ability that emerges as a result of general cognitive growth.^[1] Part of this process requires that children come to realize that others’ views may differ from their own.^[2] Role-taking ability involves understanding the cognitive and affective (i.e. relating to moods, emotions, and attitudes) aspects of another person’s point of view, and differs from perceptual perspective taking, which is the ability to recognize another person’s visual point of view of the environment.^[2] Furthermore, albeit some mixed evidence on the issue, role taking and perceptual perspective taking seem to be functionally and developmentally independent of each other.^[2]

^{We must consider that the technological advancements in the first 15 years of the 21st century have contributed greatly to the diminished capacity for people to see the point of view of others.}