Understanding the Intentions of Others. Re-enactment of Intended Acts by 18-Month-Old Children.

Meltzoff, Andrew N.

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Peer reviewed

ERIC Number: EJ510638

Record Type: Journal

Publication Date: 1995

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ISSN: ISSN-0012-1649

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Understanding the Intentions of Others. Re-enactment of Intended Acts by 18-Month-Old Children.

Meltzoff, Andrew N.

Developmental Psychology, v31 n5 p838-50 Sep 1995

Two experiments examined whether 40 infants would reenact what an adult did or intended to do: (1) infants observed an adult unsuccessfully attempt to complete 4 target acts; and (2) children observed a mechanical device tracing the adults' actions. Infants could infer adults' intentions and imitate target acts, suggesting that children can differentiate between intention and surface behavior. (JW)

Descriptors: Cognitive Development, Cognitive Processes, Cognitive Structures, Discrimination Learning, Imitation, Infants, Intention, Learning Processes, Motivation, Social Development, Socialization

Publication Type: Reports - Research; Journal Articles

Education Level: N/A

Audience: N/A

Language: English

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