Abstract
Two experiments investigated the proclivity of 14-month-old infants (a) to altruistically help others toward individual goals, and (b) to cooperate toward a shared goal. The infants helped another person by handing over objects the other person was unsuccessfully reaching for, but did not help reliably in situations involving more complex goals. When a programmed adult partner interrupted a joint cooperative activity at specific moments, infants sometimes tried to reengage the adult, perhaps indicating that they understood the interdependency of actions toward a shared goal. However, as compared to 18- and 24-month-olds, their skills in behaviorally coordinating their actions with a social partner remained rudimentary. Results are integrated into a model of cooperative activities as they develop over the 2nd year of life.
Notes
aIn unsuccessful attempts, children showed one or more of the following behaviors:
Off-task: The child did not approach the apparatus or did not reapproach after the interruption.
On apparatus, play: The child engages with the apparatus, but without an attempt to retrieve the object in the problem-solving tasks or play that is unrelated to the partner's action like banging on the apparatus.
Bystander: Child positions himself or herself next to apparatus and observes partner's actions, but does not engage in the task.
Individual attempt: Child tries to retrieve the object individually or play the game on his or her own.