theory theory

Theory-theory is the idea that people, including children, understand the world by developing and testing mental models or "theories" about how things work. For example, children might form a theory about why objects fall or why certain actions cause specific outcomes. They learn by observing, experimenting, and adjusting their beliefs based on new experiences, similar to scientists developing and refining hypotheses. This approach helps us make sense of new situations, predict consequences, and understand others’ behavior, serving as an innate or learned framework for learning and reasoning about the world around us.