Theory of mind and conceptual change

We agree with the commentaries by Scholl and Leslie, and also by Moses, tha t the meta-analytic findings do not definitively rule out early competence accounts. But they do make extant versions of such accounts increasingly un likely. In particular, the meta-analytic findings argue against executive f unction expression accounts, including the Theory-of-Mind Mechanism/Selecti on Processor account advocated by Scholl and Leslie. Specifically, Scholl a nd Leslie articulate two explicit predictions of their account: that task m anipulations that attenuate inhibitory demands should differentially advant age older children, and that theory-of-mind developments should occur with consistent timetables. Both of these specific predictions are clearly contr adicted, not supported, by the meta-analytic findings.