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Mother–Child Conversations About Pictures and Objects: Referring to Categories and Individuals
Author(s) -
Gelman Susan A.,
Chesnick Robert J.,
Waxman Sandra R.
Publication year - 2005
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/j.1467-8624.2005.00876.x-i1
Subject(s) - psychology , ostensive definition , developmental psychology , focus (optics) , communication , linguistics , social psychology , cognitive psychology , philosophy , physics , optics
The distinction between individuals (e.g., Rin‐Tin‐Tin) and categories (e.g., dogs) is fundamental in human thought. Two studies examined factors that influence when 2‐ to 3‐year‐old children and adults focus on individuals versus categories. Mother–child dyads were presented with pictures and toys (e.g., a picture of a boat or a toy boat). Conversations were coded for references to generic categories (“Dogs are furry”), ostensive labels (“This is a dog”), or specific individuals (“Lassie”). Overall, pictures generated more talk about categories; objects generated more talk about individuals. However, when objects could not be manipulated, speakers expressed relatively more category references. These results suggest that representations (in the form of pictures or objects‐on‐display) encourage young children and parents alike to think about categories.