avatarR. Rangan PhD

Summary

Research indicates that infants as young as six months old not only recognize when adults imitate them but also view imitators as more friendly, suggesting that imitation plays a crucial role in social bonding and learning from an early age.

Abstract

A recent study from Lund University in Sweden reveals that babies exhibit a positive response to being imitated by adults, looking and smiling longer at imitators. This finding supports the theory that imitation is a fundamental aspect of human learning and social interaction. The research suggests that through imitation, infants learn about shared actions, feelings, intentions, and social norms. Caregivers often intuitively engage in imitation games with babies, and this study provides empirical evidence that such playful interaction is beneficial and enjoyable for the infants. The study also implies that the joy of being imitated may persist beyond childhood, highlighting the deep-rooted nature of this social behavior.

Opinions

  • The author posits that imitation is not only a tool for learning but also a method for building social bonds, as evidenced by the positive reactions of infants to being imitated.
  • There is an element of surprise among mothers observing their infants' joyful engagement with imitation by a stranger, which underscores the innate and intuitive understanding of the significance of imitation in human interaction.
  • The article suggests that the pleasure derived from being imitated is something that many adults may still appreciate, indicating that the impact of imitation extends throughout one's life.
  • The research is seen as providing empirical support for the theory that shared actions are linked to shared feelings and intentions, and that imitation is a key mechanism in the development of these understandings in infants.
  • The author encourages readers to engage in creative expression, specifically through the #30DaysOfScikuChallenge, to explore and enjoy the intersection of science and poetry.

I See What You Do, and I like it too!

Day 11 Prompt: Cognitive Science Inspired Sciku

Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash

A smile or a nod When you imitate me I like you even more

We are social beings, and no doubt, flattery goes a long way — but you knew that! It has long been believed that human learning depends in large part on our ability to imitate and that young children learn by imitating adult caregivers.

Well — it turns out that babies also really like being imitated by the adults as well!

According to a new study from Lund University in Sweden, infants as young as six months old recognize when adults imitate them and perceive imitators as more friendly. The babies looked and smiled longer at an adult who imitated them instead of when they responded in other ways.

“Imitating young infants seems to be an effective way to catch their interest and bond with them. The mothers were quite surprised to see their infants joyfully engaging in imitation games with a stranger, but also impressed by the infants’ behaviours,” says Gabriela-Alina Sauciuc, researcher at Lund University and main author of the study ( source : Sauciuc et al., 2020)

The ongoing research will provide empirical evidence for the theory that it is through frequent exposure to being imitated, babies learn that shared actions are accompanied by shared feelings and intentions and about shared norms and routines.

Caregivers intuitively already know this. We often engage in a game of imitation around a baby — now we know that babies really like it too and may even benefit from it.

Actually, coming to think of it, many of us might still love to be imitated — Grown-ups, after all, are all ex-children— Here’s to playing and enjoying each other’s company — Thank you for reading!

*This is Day 11 of the #sciku challenge — science-inspired haiku-like poetry( so #sciku?) prompts to get you inspired — Our dear readers — why not spend some time each day creating and having a little fun — if you do — publish it anywhere on medium, just tag it with — #30DaysOfScikuChallenge.

**If Haikus/SciKus are not your thing, feel free to exercise your artistic creativity and write another form of a science-inspired story — I can’t wait to read what you come up with.

Tagging Laura Griffith Machado, PsyD Lynn E. O’Connor, Ph.D. Camille Allard Pradeep Srivastav, and anyone else who feels inspired to follow and/or play along with this fun #30DaysOfScikuChallenge and today’s prompt: Cognitive Science

What to read next? Give this a look —

30daysofscikuchallenge
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Cognitive Science
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