Change in imitation for object manipulation between 10 and 12 months of age.
By the end of the first year, infants show dramatic increases in manual skill. In this study we tested one factor likely to contribute to this change: an increase in the capacity for observational learning, which may enable infants to learn new behaviors and practice ones that they already possess. Thus, we evaluated change in imitation between 10 and 12 months of age. Twelve 10-month-olds and twelve 12-month-old infants were shown different kinds of manual actions on a variety of objects; infants also manipulated objects during a free play control condition. Results indicated that older infants benefited more than younger ones in the Demonstration condition and that at both ages, infants performed the target action more quickly after observing a demonstration. We hypothesize that observational learning can help manual skill development by enabling infants to learn new actions and select and practice ones already in their skill set.
Fagard
Jacqueline
J
Laboratoire Psychologie de la Perception, Université Paris Descartes, CNRS UMR 8158, Centre Biomédical des Saints Pères, 45 rue des Sts Pères, 75006 Paris, France. jacqueline.fagard@parisdescartes.fr
Lockman
Jeffrey J
JJ
D002657:Child Development; D003210:Concept Formation; D005106:Exploratory Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007100:Imitative Behavior; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D010988:Play and Playthings; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time