Theory of mind is an important social-cognitive skill that involves the ability to think about mental states, both your own and those of others. It encompasses the ability to attribute mental states, including emotions, desires, beliefs, and knowledge. Not only does theory of mind involve thinking about thinking, but it also refers to the ability to understand that other people's thoughts and beliefs may be different from your own and to consider the factors that have led to those mental states.Why is it called a "theory" of mind? Psychologists refer to it as such because our beliefs about what might be going on in another person's head are just that—theories. While we can make predictions, we have no direct way of knowing exactly what a person might be thinking. All we can rely on is our own theories that we develop based on what people say, how they act, what we know about their personalities, and what we can infer about their intentions.