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Perception and conceptualization of intentionality in children
Author(s) -
Thommen E.,
Dumas A.,
Erskine J.,
Reymond J.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
british journal of developmental psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.062
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 2044-835X
pISSN - 0261-510X
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-835x.1998.tb00922.x
Subject(s) - intentionality , psychology , conceptualization , perception , causality (physics) , cognitive psychology , developmental psychology , epistemology , linguistics , neuroscience , philosophy , physics , quantum mechanics
In the present study, comprising four experiments, we evaluated the development of the child's ability to theorize about intentionality. Children ( N = 176) and adults ( N = 28) were shown short films about two small moving geometrical forms. The stimuli were replications of those created by Michotte (1946) and Kanizsa & Vicario (1969). The participants' descriptions and explanations were examined. The causes of movement were divided into two categories: causality and intentionality. Our prediction was that the distinction between these two categories would be mastered at an early age, but only at a much later age would participants theorize about them. Results show three stages to this development.