This book provides a critical review of research into how children come to understand the social world, an area often known as children's "theories of mind". * Takes an integrated approach to the development of children's social understanding * Brings out the connections between mental state understanding and children's understanding of language, social skills, morality and emotions. Sets research within a historical and theoretical context * Contributes unique insights and perspectives, particularly in its discussions of Piaget and Vygotsky, and in its Wittgensteinian focus on the role of language.