Question: the mind has little influence on our emotional states.​ true false

title: Theory of mind
text: While much research has been done on infants , theory of mind develops continuously throughout childhood and into late adolescence as the synapses ( neuronal connections ) in the prefrontal cortex develop . The prefrontal cortex is responsible for planning and decision - making . Children seem to develop theory of mind skills sequentially . The first skill to develop is the ability to recognize that others have diverse desires . Children are able to recognize that others have diverse beliefs soon after . The next skill to develop is recognizing that others have access to different knowledge bases . Finally , children are able to understand that others may have false beliefs and that others are capable of hiding emotions . While this sequence represents the general trend in skill acquisition , it seems that more emphasis is placed on some skills in certain cultures , leading to more valued skills to develop before those that are considered not as important . For example , in individualistic cultures such as the United States , a greater emphasis is placed on the ability to recognize that others have different opinions and beliefs . In a collectivistic culture , such as China , this skill may not be as important and therefore may not develop until later .