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Emerging sensitivity to the timing and structure of protoconversation in early infancy
P Rochat1, J G Querido, T Striano
1Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA. psypr@emory.edu
Developmental Psychology
|August 12, 1999
Summary
Infants aged 4-6 months show developing social expectations, smiling more during organized peekaboo games. This indicates an early sensitivity to conversational structure in social interactions.
Area of Science:
- Developmental psychology
- Infant social interaction
- Early communication
Background:
- Infants' social engagement evolves rapidly in the first year.
- Early interactions shape the development of social expectations.
- Understanding infant responses to social cues is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how infants aged 2, 4, and 6 months respond to organized versus disorganized social interactions.
- To explore the development of sensitivity to conversational structure in early infancy.
- To identify early markers of developing social expectations.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-six infants (2, 4, 6 months) were videotaped during peekaboo with a stranger.
- Peekaboo games were either organized or disorganized.
- Infant gazing and smiling behaviors were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Two-month-old infants showed no difference in gazing or smiling.
- Four- and 6-month-old infants smiled more and gazed less during organized games.
- This suggests a developing sensitivity to social exchange structure by 4 months.
Conclusions:
- Infants develop sensitivity to the timing and structure of social exchanges by 4 months.
- These findings provide evidence for developing social expectations in early infancy.
- This early development prepares infants for later communicative competence.
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