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Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy
2016. Vol. 24, no. 1, 24–43
doi:10.17759/cpp.2016240103
ISSN: 2075-3470 / 2311-9446 (online)

The trajectory change of theory of mind in the elderly

2339

A. Melehin

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Abstract

Theory of mind is viewed as a cognitive mechanism of social cognition. Features of social cognition and theory of mind are differentiated. Studies of cognitive and affective components of theory of mind in old age are summarized. Heterogeneous changes of theory of mind show that the deficit in the ability to understand the mind of another is not total, but selective. Factors (neuroanatomical, cognitive, psychosocial, etc.) influencing the theory of mind in old age are systematized. Strategies of enhancing theory of mind in old age are described.

General Information

Keywords: social cognition, theory of mind, elderly age, senile age, theory of mind deficit

Journal rubric: Theory and Methodology

Article type: scientific article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/cpp.2016240103

For citation: Melehin A. The trajectory change of theory of mind in the elderly. Konsul'tativnaya psikhologiya i psikhoterapiya = Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy, 2016. Vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 24–43. DOI: 10.17759/cpp.2016240103. (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.)

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Information About the Authors

Aleksey Melehin, PhD in Psychology, Associate professor, Stolypin Humanitarian Institute, clinical psychologist of the highest qualification category, somnologist, cognitive behavioral psychotherapist, Moscow, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5633-7639, e-mail: clinmelehin@yandex.ru

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