Theory of mind effects social behavior in almost every way, from children's playgroups to the adult's social world. This theory claims that people suffering from autism do not recognize other people's points of view as valid. An autistic person is not necessarily egocentric; he or she just presumes that every other person in the world knows and feels exactly the way he or she does. Most people suffering from autism do not know how to lie, which, though not a bad thing at all, is a little unnatural. Lying is not even an option for them, as they presume that everybody knows the truth the way they know it.

Because individuals suffering from autism do not know how to lie, they presume that others do not either. That is they believe anything and everything anybody else tells them. As a matter of fact, autistic people find it shocking to realize that somebody has lied to them. This effect is more pronounced in the business world, where autistic people are unable to cope up with such dishonesty. As they are under the notion that the whole world thinks and acts they way they do, they find it impossible to put themselves in anybody else's shoes. Although they can be taught this, it is a task that is almost impossible to achieve, as they have to consciously do this every time.

The Theory of Mind proves to be troublesome even for small children who find themselves completely out of place when they play games with other children and the games involve keeping secrets. They also need to be reminded about how to share and release their aggression in way that is not harmful. A very large part of the frustration that autistic people feel is due to the fact that they cannot understand why other people are not reacting the way they expect them to react. The same applies for autistic children. They cannot believe that other people will not know facts that they know. If they know something, so should every body else.

A lot more study and research needs to be dedicated to the Theory of Mind in order to gain better understanding and consequently treat this symptom. At present, the most commonly used teaching method is exposing the autistic person to continuous social interaction, in addition to games like role-playing that involve looking at things from different angles. Till modern medicine finds a suitable answer to the Theory of Mind, patience and the willingness to explain are the key qualities that are required when it comes to autistic patients.