Previous research has demonstrated that higher cognitive capacity is associated with more effective persuasion. Within this framework, Theory of Mind (ToM)- the capacity to attribute independent mental states to others- plays a critical role in the construction of persuasive arguments. Empirical studies have shown that children with more advanced ToM skills tend to produce arguments that are more compelling. However, the potential influence of ToM on self-persuasion- that is, whether persuasive efforts can lead to changes in the persuader’s own attitudes- remains unexplored. The present study seeks to address this gap by (1) investigating whether children’s ToM abilities moderate the effectiveness of their persuasive arguments and (2) examining the extent to which ToM development influences self-persuasion, specifically through changes in children’s attitudes toward broccoli following a persuasive task. A total of 164 children between the ages of 3 and 9 participated in a role-playing activity in which they were asked to convince a puppet to eat broccoli. Attitudes toward broccoli were assessed both before and after the task. ToM was measured using the Sally-Anne false belief test. Results indicated that children who passed the ToM task exhibited a more pronounced positive shift in their attitudes toward broccoli compared to those who did not pass. These findings suggest that ToM development contributes not only to persuasive effectiveness but also to the internalization of persuasive messages through self-persuasion. This study offers new insights into cognitive development and has practical implications for education and behavior modification.

Authors:
Dario Diaz, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
Miriam Bajo, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
Maria Stavraki, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Spain

About the Presenter(s)
Darío Nuño Díaz Méndez is a Full Professor of Psychology and Mental Health Director at the Ciudad Real Medical School (Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Spain). His research focuses on social cognition and metacognition, as well as well-being.

Connect on ResearchGate
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Dario-Diaz-8

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