Infant intersubjectivity: research, theory, and clinical applications
1Department of Psychology, The University of Edinburgh, UK.
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines
|February 24, 2001
Summary
Early self-and-other awareness in infancy, driven by intrinsic motive formation (IMF), is crucial for developing cooperative intelligence and language. Its proper functioning is essential for purposeful consciousness and social learning, impacting child mental health.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Child Mental Health
Background:
- Infant communication and cognition research has diverse traditions.
- Intersubjectivity, or mutual self-other-consciousness, is key to early development.
- Brain maturation is influenced by prenatal and postnatal psychosocial support.
Purpose of the Study:
- Review research on the emergence of self-and-other awareness in infancy.
- Examine the role of motives and emotions in child mental health.
- Highlight the relevance of infant intersubjectivity to clinical concerns.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing research evidence.
- Distinguishing and outlining the history of "intersubjectivity" in developmental research.
- Focus on intrinsic patterns in pre- and post-natal brain maturation.
Main Results:
- Mutual self-other-consciousness is vital for cooperative intelligence, cultural learning, and language.
- Intrinsic motive formation (IMF) supports sensory-motor coordination and learning of human signals.
- Proper functioning of the neural motivating system is essential for consciousness and cooperation.
Conclusions:
- Infant intersubjectivity is fundamental for developing purposeful consciousness and social cooperation.
- Disruptions in intersubjective communication are linked to various child mental health issues.
- Interventions supporting intrinsic motives for intersubjective communication can be effective.
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