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Longitudinal Continuity in Understanding and Production of Giving‐Related Behavior From Infancy to Childhood
Author(s) -
Juvrud Joshua,
Bakker Marta,
Kaduk Katharina,
DeValk Josje M.,
Gredebäck Gustaf,
Kenward Benjamin
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/cdev.13131
Subject(s) - psychology , gesture , gaze , developmental psychology , cognitive psychology , early childhood , life span , pupillary response , language development , child development , pupil , neuroscience , linguistics , gerontology , medicine , philosophy , psychoanalysis
Infants have an early understanding of giving (the transfer of an item by one agent to another), but little is known about individual differences in these abilities or their developmental outcomes. Here, 9‐month‐olds ( N = 59) showing clearer neural processing (Event‐related potential, ERP) of a give‐me gesture also evidenced a stronger reaction (pupil dilation) to an inappropriate response to a give‐me gesture, and at 2 years were more likely to give in response to a give‐me gesture. None of the differences in understanding and production of giving‐related behaviors were associated with other sociocognitive variables investigated: language, gaze‐following, and nongiving helping. The early developmental continuity in understanding and production of giving behavior is consistent with the great importance of giving for humans throughout the life span.