Two functional orientations of self-exploration in infancy

Author(s): Morgan, R.

Journal/Book: Brit J Develop Psychol. 1998; 16: St Andrews House, 48 Princess Rd East, Leicester LE1 7DR, Leics, England. British Psychological Soc. 139-154.

Abstract: Twenty 3- and 5-month-old infants were presented with either a congruent or incongruent (left/right reversal) on-line views of their own legs on a large TV monitor in two different experimental conditions. In one (no-object) condition, infants viewed their legs which produced a sound each time they moved them. In another (object) condition, they viewed their legs plus an object target which produced a sound each time it was kicked. Results indicate that from 3 months of age infants tend to reverse their pattern of relative visual attention and leg movement depending on the condition. Confirming previous findings, at both ages infants looked significantly longer and were more active while looking at the incongruent view of their own legs in the no-object condition. In contrast, infants looked significantly longer and were more active while looking at the congruent view of their own legs in the object condition. These observations are interpreted as evidence that early in the first year of life, infants express a sense of their own body as a perceptually organized entity which they monitor and control as either an object of exploration or an agent of action in the environment.

Note: Article Rochat P, Emory Univ, Dept Psychol, Atlanta,GA 30322 USA

Keyword(s): HAND-MOUTH COORDINATION; NEWBORN-INFANTS; PERCEPTION; DETERMINANTS; CONTINGENCY; MOVEMENTS; IMAGE

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