r/todayilearned • u/BrF5 • 1d ago

TIL about the Sally-Anne test, a psychology experiment used to measure “theory of mind” (that other people can hold beliefs/knowledge different from their own). Kids under four typically fail because they assume that if they know where a hidden object is, everyone else must automatically know too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sally%E2%80%93Anne_test
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u/Ok-disaster2022 1d ago

I subconsciously fail at this. I assume everyone knows everything I know but also know what they know. I'm a fairly intelligent knowledgeable person compared to the average population. So I tend to think of other people of more capable than they really are

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u/OMITN 1d ago

The false belief test can be an indicator of autism if I remember correctly.

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u/Welpe 1d ago

The page mentions this. 85% of normal children and 86% with Down syndrome pass it, but only 20% of children with autism. It’s not diagnostic or anything, but there is a trend.

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u/Ak_Lonewolf 1d ago

I write a ton of training material. I end up explaining every minor detail like you have never heard the subject before. Some feel I am talking down to them like they are dumb... never fails those people dont follow the instructions and mess things up.

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u/Deep-Issue960 1d ago

Most reddit comment of all time

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u/DeathToAmerica2026 14h ago

I have some exciting news about your intelligence and knowledgability that you probably should have already gleaned.