Other people can think differently — Psychology, 4–6 years
People see, know, and want different things. Understanding another person’s point of view helps us predict actions and solve disagreements without assuming that everyone has the same information.
A different mind can have different information
You know what you saw, but another person may have seen only the other side. You may want the blue cup while they want the red one. Their thoughts and wishes can differ from yours, even when you are in the same room. That difference is a point of view.
Why notice another viewpoint?
Living and playing with others creates a problem: people act on what they know and want, but we cannot see inside their heads. Thinking about their viewpoint helps us explain a mistake, share fairly, and guess what they may do next. It grew from the need to cooperate with other minds.
The hidden toy
Sam puts a toy under a green box. Ana watches, then leaves. Sam moves the toy under a yellow box. Ana comes back. Where will Ana look? She will probably look under the green box, because that is where she last saw it. Sam knows the new place, but Ana does not.
Knowing is not seeing
A child may say, Ana will look under the yellow box, because the toy is really there. This is reasonable: the child knows the answer and wants to give the most useful one. But Ana only has her own earlier information. To predict her action, we must use what she knows, not what we know.
Understanding helps us get along
If a friend grabs a puzzle piece, you might first think they are being unkind. Then you can ask what they thought was happening: perhaps they believed it was their turn. Checking another viewpoint can prevent a quarrel, though it does not mean accepting hurtful behaviour.
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