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Infant intentionality as object directedness: A method for observation *
Author(s) -
VEDELER DANKERT
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.743
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1467-9450
pISSN - 0036-5564
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-9450.1994.tb00959.x
Subject(s) - intentionality , psychology , attribution , perception , object (grammar) , cognitive psychology , social psychology , social perception , developmental psychology , epistemology , artificial intelligence , computer science , philosophy , neuroscience
It is argued that a definition of intentionality in terms of object directedness is more adequate than the traditional definition in terms of goal directedness. Inconsistencies in the use of “intentionality” among infant researchers are pointed out. A method of observation is explored, based on the definition in terms of behavioral object directedness, that takes into account precursors to fully‐fledged intentional actions by approaching intentionality as a matter of degree rather than as an all or none issue. The method, when used on longitudinal video recordings of parent‐infant interaction, produced results that substantiated Tre‐varthen's observations of infant intentionality before the age of six months. Furthermore, the results suggest that the parent's attribution of intentions to the infant is based on the perception of the infant's intentionality, whether in social interaction or in interaction with “physical” objects.