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Citation |
Gustafson GE. Dev. Psychol. 1984; 20(3): 397. |
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Copyright |
(Copyright © 1984, American Psychological Association) |
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DOI |
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PMID |
unavailable |
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Abstract |
Two experiments were conducted to test effects of infants' ability to locomote on their social and exploratory behaviors. Participants in the first study were 20 normal infants between the ages of 6V2 and 10 months. None of these infants was able to locomote independently. Each was observed, in a standard laboratory environment, for 10 min in an infant "walker" and for 10 min out of the walker. The second study compared effects of walker-assisted locomotion with effects of independent locomotion. Participants were 16 additional infants, all able to creep or crawl. Age parameters were closely similar to those of the first sample Taken altogether, the results indicated that the two modes of locomotion, walker-assisted or independent, afforded similar experiences within a standard environment, but experiences quite different from those of the nonlocomoting infant Some behaviors actually emerged as a function of the ability to locomote, others changed in frequency; still others were extended to new features of the environment In addition, all classes of behaviors measured were known from other studies to affect adults' behavior toward infants. Therefore, changes in these behaviors should lead to changes in infants' social experiences. The systematic reorganization of experiences, both social and nonsocial, as a result of locomotion has implications for social development, and for perceptual, cognitive, and language development as well. |