Role of motor imitation in traversability of surfaces by walking infants.
The ecological approach by Gibson stressed the role of visual cues in toddlers' locomotor activities. In particular, a rigid surface offers more traversability "affordances" to walkers (13-16 mo. old) than a deformable surface. On the other hand, imitation plays a relevant role in human behaviors. In our study a group of 17 walking infants (12-19 mo.) were asked to choose between locomoting on a rigid versus a deformable surface after having seen an older child walking on the deformable surface. A control group of 19 infants were asked to do the same task without having seen a model. The task was repeated three times. No relevant differences appeared between the two groups as to the choice of surfaces: the rigid surface was preferred by both groups. Some slight differences in the behavior of the experimental group were seen as a result of observing the model. Clearly, however, social stimulus. such as the sight of an older child performing a specific task, does not overcome the affordances which induce infants not to walk on the deformable surface.
Toselli
M
M
University of Firenze, Italia. toselli@psico.unifi.it
Farneti
P
P
Grossi
E
E
D005106:Exploratory Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007100:Imitative Behavior; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011340:Problem Solving; D002666:Psychology, Child; D013499:Surface Properties; D014796:Visual Perception; D016138:Walking / Q000523:psychology*