认知技能、策略成熟度与人生结果

中文摘要

我们研究儿童期认知技能如何影响策略成熟度和成年后的结果，并强调儿童期心智理论的重要性。实验数据显示：(i) 心智理论能力和认知能力均能预测k层级行为；(ii) 年龄较大的儿童会对有关对手认知能力的信息作出反应；(iii) 心智理论（而非认知能力）能预测儿童是否会对意图作出反应。利用纵向数据，我们发现，儿童期心智理论和认知能力均与成年后更强的社交技能、更高的教育参与度、更高的受教育程度以及成年早期更低的生育率相关。最后，我们提供了学校支出改善心智理论的证据。

Abstract

We investigate how childhood cognitive skills affect strategic sophistication and adult outcomes, and we emphasize the importance of childhood theory of mind. Experimental data show that (i) theory-of-mind ability and cognitive ability both predict level k behavior, (ii) older children respond to information about the cognitive ability of their opponent, and (iii) theory of mind (but not cognitive ability) predicts whether children respond to intentions. Using longitudinal data, we find that childhood theory of mind and cognitive ability are both associated with enhanced adult social skills, higher educational participation, better educational attainment, and lower fertility in young adulthood. Finally, we provide evidence that school spending improves theory of mind.