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Perspective Taking ITS IMPACT ON THE SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS OF STUDENTS

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Today’s Learning Outcomes

 To understand the complexities of perspective taking and the implications it has on a student’s ability to thrive both socially and academically

 To gather practical ideas and resources for supporting the growth and development of perspective taking skills

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Overview Of The Day

 Introductions/ice breaker/initial thoughts  Define perspective taking qualities  What is the social and academic impact on students

who lack the ability to take perspective?  Break (15 minutes)  How do we support growth and development of

perspective taking skills?  Closing thoughts and questions

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Introductions

 Introduce yourself to a partner and tell them three things about yourself

 You and your partner will take turns introducing each other to the class

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Ice Breaker

Ocean  What words come to mind when you think of

the ocean?  Think of what you might see, hear, smell or

feel  Write your thoughts on the cards provided

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What is perspective taking?

 “Perspective taking refers to our ability to relate to others. It is our ability to perceive someone else’s thoughts, feelings, and motivations. In other words it refers to our ability to empathize with someone else and see things from their perspective.”

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Continued…

“Most people can intuitively tell how someone else feels in a conversation. When they speak to someone who’s looking around and not paying attention, they perceive the person is not interested in the conversation or is distracted for some reason. They know if they see tears in the person’s eyes that the person is upset (Isa Marrs, 2014).”

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What is Theory of Mind?

 “Theory of Mind is the ability to not only understand that people have different beliefs, motivations, knowledge and moods but also understand how that effects their actions and behavior as well as our own. Theory of Mind is a necessary component of perspective taking. (Isa Marrs, 2014).”

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Is it possible to teach perspective taking? 9

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Three Steps to Perspective Taking

Step 1  When you come into my space I have a thought

about you and you have a thought about me Step 2

 I understand you have thoughts and feelings different from mine

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Continued…

Step Three I can adjust my thinking and actions based on others

thoughts and feelings. To keep you thinking about me the way I would like you to think about me

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What makes us good perspective takers?

 Recognizing each person as an individual  Recognizing each person has his or her own feelings and

emotions  Understanding each person has their own motives

desires and intentions

Adapted from Michelle Garcia Winner, 2007

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Continued…

 Recognizing social conventions in specific social environments

 Understanding social conventions are specific to setting  Using eye contact to remain aware Knowing how to

inquire about another person’s interests  Realizing individuals have their own personality

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Continued…

 Having an innate desire to learn about others interests and history

 Remembering a person to help build and maintain relationships, as well as develop an understanding of a person’s possible actions

  the persons different possible feelings/emotions through out an interaction

 Considering prior knowledge and experience of the person you may talk to

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Selman’s Five Stages of Perspective Taking

Stages and Ages Description

Undifferentiated Perspective Taking Age 3-6

•  Recognize that self and others have different thoughts and feelings

•  Frequently confuses the two Social-informational Perspective Taking Age 5-9

•  Recognize different perspectives may be due to people accessing different information

Self –reflective Perspective Taking Age 7-12

•  Able to step into another person’s shoes and view thoughts and feelings from another perspective

•  Aware that others can do the same Third-party Perspective Taking Age 10-15

•  Able to step out of a two person interaction and imagine how they are being viewed by a third party

Societal Perspective Taking Age 15-Adult

•  Able to understand that third party perspective can be influenced by larger societal values.

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Perspective Taking According to Sheldon

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Consequences for Lack of Perspective Taking

Social Academic •  Social isolation •  Being considered

insensitive • Maybe considered a bully

or self centered • Difficulty maintaining

friendships

• Difficulty working in groups •  Lack of understanding of

assignments • Difficulty accepting teacher

feedback leading to challenging relationships

•  Lack of comprehension

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Break Time! 18

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How do we facilitate the development of perspective taking?

 Find a target area to work on. Consider the list of qualities and stages of perspective taking to help target an area.

 Consider the cognitive ability of your student. Does he/she need visuals, physical acting out, video taping? What will work best to get the message to them?

 Create an environment that is safe and comfortable for the

student. ie: If they work best with another student in a quiet place, consider removing them for a quick daily lesson with a carefully chosen classmate.

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Continued…

 Be realistic, this is a work in progress  Try things for a period of time. It’s rare for

change to happen overnight  Do not reinvent the wheel. There is a

tremendous amount of activities and worksheets already to be used both online and in resource books

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Activities to Support Perspective Taking

 The following is a very small sample of activities to support perspective taking.

 Please participate and enjoy the process!

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Activity #1 Social Behaviour Mapping

Social Behaviour Map Behaviours that are UNEXPECTED!

Place: Lunchroom

     

Unexpected behaviours  

How they make others feel  

Negative consequences you experience  

How you feel about yourself  

1.Refusing to share the lunch table                 2. Refusing to clean up after you eat                      

Rejected   Confused   Sad   Afraid       Lunch monitors are frustrated   Stressed out   Lack trust   Unhappy  

Classmates don’t want to sit with you or get to know you               People hovering   Conflict   Privileges revoked      

Rejected   Confused   Lonely   Frustrated       Embarrassed   Frustrated   Angry    

Social Behaviour Map Behaviours that are EXPECTED!

Place: Lunchroom      

Expected behaviours   How they make others feel  

Positive consequences you experience  

How you feel about yourself  

1.Sharing the lunch table             2. Putting your lunch and dishes away after lunch                      

Welcomed   Included   Interested in you       Lunch monitors are relieved   More relaxed   Happy to see you   Trusting  

Classmates want to sit with you and get to know you           Independence Privileges in the lunch room   Becoming a monitor   Opportunity to be a leader  

Included   Happy Proud       Proud   Motivated   Excited    

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Practice Social Behaviour Mapping 23

Activity #2 Look Inside My Head!  The thoughts in my

head show you about my experiences, beliefs and interests. This influences what I say and how I respond to things during social interaction. This is my perspective. What’s yours?

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Activity #3: What is everybody thinking? 25

Resources to Check Out

  Michelle Garcia Winner and Pam Crooke, Social Thinking website and many resource books with activities and worksheets

  Jill Kuzma: http://jillkuzma.wordpress.com/perspective-taking-skills/teaching-ideas/

  Pintrest has endless ideas for quick perspective taking activities   http://www.pinterest.com/kcssw/social-thinking-perspective-

taking/   Youtube has many excellent videos that demonstrate

perspective taking

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 QUIZ TIME!  10 minutes

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For Next Time Choose one activity you tried today and use it with a student. Bring feedback…  Did you alter anything to make it more suitable for your

student?  Was the student receptive?  Will it be helpful to build long term perspective taking

skills? Remember, many activities need to be repeated several or many times in order to experience growth and development of a skill.

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References   Slide 7&8

  M. Garcia Winner & P. Crooke. (2014). Zooming In. Workshop, Richmond, BC.   Slide 12, 13 & 14

  M. Garcia Winner. (2007). Thinking About You, Thinking About Me. San Jose, CA. Think Social Publishing Inc.

  Slide 16

  Selman’s Five Stages of Perspective Taking. (2002). Retrieved September 3, 2014. from http://everything2.com/title/Selman%2527s+Five+Stages+of+Perspective+Taking

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