Document Detail


A Piagetian approach to infant referential behaviors.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21616537     Owner:  NLM     Status:  Publisher    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Near the end of the first year of life, infants begin producing referential behaviors that in adults indicate joint attention, or coordinating shared attention to an object with another person. These behaviors have been interpreted in the social cognitive literature as an indication that infants realize they are sharing attention to an object with another person. In this paper, we address theory and research on infant referential behaviors described as joint attention and offer an alternative explanation for the presence of these behaviors. Using Piaget's constructivist theory, we show how research in this area can be interpreted without assuming that infants have advanced social cognitive abilities. We argue that infants' referential behaviors are motor signifiers of thought and that infants recognize humans as particularly relevant objects for their goal-directed behaviors. Finally, we describe how the field of infant joint attention research should proceed if a comprehensive understanding of infant cognitive processes is to be desired.
Authors:
Jaime L Dice; Meghan K Dove
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Publication Detail:
Type:  JOURNAL ARTICLE     Date:  2011-5-24
Journal Detail:
Title:  Infant behavior & development     Volume:  -     ISSN:  1934-8800     ISO Abbreviation:  -     Publication Date:  2011 May 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-5-27     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7806016     Medline TA:  Infant Behav Dev     Country:  -    
Other Details:
Languages:  ENG     Pagination:  -     Citation Subset:  -    
Copyright Information:
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Affiliation:
Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of Rhode Island, 2 Lower College Road, Kingston, RI 02881, United States.
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