Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 16, 2026
06:34
Infant Auditory Processing and Event-related Brain Oscillations
Published on: July 1, 2015
17.1K
Rhythm and interpersonal synchrony in early social development
Laurel J Trainor1, Laura Cirelli
1Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; McMaster Institute for Music and the Mind, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|March 17, 2015
Summary
Synchronous movement with an adult boosts infant prosocial behavior, increasing helpfulness towards partners. This synchronized interaction enhances cooperation and trust, even extending to the partner's social circle.
Area of Science:
- Developmental psychology
- Social neuroscience
- Infant behavior
Background:
- Synchronous movement, particularly to music, enhances social bonding and cooperation in adults.
- Infants perceive auditory rhythm and their movements are influenced by musical tempo, despite limited motor coordination.
- Previous research suggests early rhythmic interactions may shape social development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of synchronous rhythmic bouncing on prosocial behavior in 14-month-old infants.
- To determine if infants treated their synchronized bouncing partner differently from a neutral stranger.
- To examine whether prosocial behavior generalizes to a friend of the synchronized partner.
Main Methods:
- Infants were bounced by an adult either in synchrony or asynchronously with a rhythmic pattern.
- Following the bouncing, infants' altruistic behavior was assessed by observing their willingness to return "accidentally" dropped objects.
- Helpfulness was measured towards the bouncing partner, a neutral stranger, and a friend of the bouncing partner.
Main Results:
- Infants bounced in synchrony exhibited significantly more altruistic behavior (returning dropped objects) towards their bouncing partner compared to those bounced asynchronously.
- Helpfulness was specifically directed towards the synchronized partner and did not extend to a neutral stranger.
- Prosocial behavior demonstrated by infants did generalize to a "friend" of the synchronized bouncing partner.
Conclusions:
- Synchronous rhythmic movement between infants and adults powerfully influences the development of directed prosocial behavior in infants.
- Early synchronized interactions lay a foundation for social cooperation, trust, and altruism.
- These findings highlight the crucial role of shared rhythmic experiences in shaping infant social cognition and behavior.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:30Socioemotional Development during Infancy
1.4K
Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
Primary Temperament Types
1.4K
01:28Relationship with Parents: Attachment
363
Parent-child interactions lay the foundation for how we understand relationships throughout life. These interactions are not uniform across families; instead, they are shaped by a range of environmental, emotional, and behavioral factors unique to each caregiver-child dynamic. Social psychologists study these early relationships to understand how patterns formed in infancy influence social functioning and interpersonal behavior in adulthood.Attachment Theory and Early Relational ModelsJohn...
363
01:29Relationship with Other Adult Family Members and Siblings
265
Other adult family members and siblings play a crucial role in shaping children’s social and emotional development. While parents or primary caregivers are often the central figures in early attachment and socialization, other adults in a child’s life, such as grandparents, aunts, and uncles, can significantly influence developmental outcomes. These influences depend on each adult’s personality and may help compensate when a primary caregiver is emotionally distant or...
265
01:30Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development
406
Social-emotional experiences and cultural influences play significant roles in shaping gender development. During middle childhood, from ages 6 to 11, peer groups become dominant in reinforcing gender norms. Children in this age group often align with same-gender peer groups, which actively encourage behaviors that conform to traditional gender roles. For instance, boys may be discouraged from engaging in activities perceived as feminine, reinforcing culturally dictated norms about masculinity...
406
01:13Nonconscious Mimicry
5.2K
Nonconscious mimicry occurs when individuals alter their mannerisms to match the behaviors and expressions of those nearby, without intention.
5.2K
01:24Social Foundations of Self I: Play and Game
331
The development of self in children is deeply rooted in social interactions, mainly through stages of play and structured games. These stages, outlined by sociologist George Herbert Mead, illustrate how children progressively learn to understand and adopt social roles, forming a cohesive sense of self.The Play Stage: Imitation and Simple Role-TakingIn the early years of childhood, the play stage is characterized by imitative behavior, where children engage in role-playing based on familiar...
331