SOCIAL COGNITION AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING: A CONSTRUCTIVIST DEVELOPMENTAL APPROACH
Abstract:
The present paper extends a previous discussion on social cognition as an emergent construction, at the interplay of internal (individual) and external (environmental) constraints (Benga, 2004) along development. A special emphasis is given to internal constraints, particularly executive abilities -with a focus on the ontogenetic progression of inhibitory control. Crossings of executive abilities with theory of mind, but also with earlier joint attention abilities are discussed, within a social cognitive neuroscience perspective
Keywords: social cognition, theory of mind, executive abilities, inhibitory control, anterior cingulate cortex