Early social referencing predicts object mastery motivation in infancy: Social antecedents of object mastery motivation
Author:
Yanchik Amelia1ORCID,
Gardner Judith M.23,
Karmel Bernard Z.23,
Vietze Peter1
Affiliation:
1. Department of Psychology Montclair State University Montclair New Jersey USA
2. Department of Infant Development New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities New York City New York USA
3. Department of Pediatrics Richmond University Medical Center New York City New York USA
Abstract
AbstractThe researchers sought to understand the typical development of social referencing and object mastery motivation in infancy and to determine the relationship between social referencing and object mastery behaviors in infants from 7 to 22 months of age. The study included 36 infants who were followed as part of a longitudinal study of at‐risk infants but were not determined to need care in the neonatal intesive care unit at birth. Both mastery behaviors of persistence and success showed a statistically significant effect of age, while social behaviors remained stable from 7 to 22 months. Social behaviors at 7 and 10 months were correlated with persistence at 22 months and success at 16 to 22 months demonstrating that early social referencing predicts object mastery behaviors in later infancy. Further research should determine if this trend extends to early childhood.
Funder
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Office for People With Developmental Disabilities
Subject
Developmental and Educational Psychology,Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health
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