Final answer:
The understanding that others have different thoughts, feelings, and beliefs is known as theory of mind. This cognitive ability emerges in early childhood and is fundamental to social interactions and development, increasing further during adolescence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ability that children can reason about their own desires, intentions, and beliefs and recognize that others' desires, intentions, and beliefs are different from their own is referred to as theory of mind (a). Theory of mind is a critical developmental milestone that typically emerges between 3 and 5 years old, enabling children to understand that people have thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that are different from their own.
This cognitive ability plays a significant role in social interactions, allowing children to tease, persuade parents, or understand others' emotional states. Moreover, during adolescence, cognitive empathy related to theory of mind begins to increase significantly, which is crucial for social problem solving and conflict avoidance. Lastly, this understanding of theory of mind contributes to the more complex thinking abilities that develop during adolescence, such as abstract thought, consideration of multiple points of view, and questioning societal norms and authority.