Which scenario most clearly shows how early mirror self-recognition can lay groundwork for later theory-of-mind achievements?

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Question restatement: We are asked to identify which scenario best demonstrates how early mirror self-recognition can lay groundwork for later theory-of-mind achievements.
Option 1: 'Mirror self-recognition at 18 months predicts that Maya will share blocks without prompting at the same age.' This option suggests a direct link between self-recognition and sharing behavior at the same age. While sharing is a prosocial skill, the statement overreaches by claiming a predictive link to sharing at the same age and does not clearly illustrate understanding of others' mental states or desires, which is central to theory of mind.
Option 2: 'A child who recognises herself in the mirror at 18 months later hands broccoli—not crackers—to an adult who previously expressed a broccoli preference, demonstrating awareness of differing desires.' This scenario explicitly shows the child recognizing that another person has different desires from their own (the adult preferred broccoli, not crackers), which is a core component of early theory of mind—understanding that others can have beliefs or desires that differ from one’s own. The mirror recognition at 18 months provides a foundation for social-c cognitive processing that can support this kind of perspective-taking.
Option 3: 'Failing the mirror test at 18 months yet passing a false-belief test at four shows the two abilities are unrelated.' This statement presents a dissociation that argues against a developmental link between mirror recognition and theory of mind; it actually undermines the idea that early mirror recognition lays groundwork for later theory-of-mind achievements, making it inconsistent with the prompt.
Option 4: 'After passing the mirror test at 18 months, Maya quickly helps an adult open a cupboard.' This describes prosocial helping behavior following mirror recognition, which is supportive of social development but does not directly demonstrate understanding of others’ mental states or differing desires, which are key to theory of mind.
In summary, the scenario that most clearly ties early mirror self-recognition to the emergence of theory-of-mind skills is the one where the child demonstrates awareness of another person’s differing desires, connecting self-recognition to perspective-taking abilities central to theory of mind.

Which scenario most clearly shows how early mirror self-recognition can lay groundwork for later theory-of-mind achievements?

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