Abstract
Noting the central role accorded imitation in the origins of symbolic functioning, language development, and identity formation, as well as its relationship to aspects of individuation, the authors have reviewed the problem of imitation from both cognitive developmental and psychoanalytic perspectives. They have specifically delineated piagetian views regarding the origins of imitation and traced its relationship to the emergence of language, while attempting to clarify various psychoanalytic formulations on this topic. This dual theoretical perspective is then reconsidered within the framework of the current empirical infancy literature. Pathological sequelae of imitation are also reviewed in relation to their impact upon ego formation and the process of socialization. Tracing a cognitive developmental line, the authors then discuss the relationship between imitation and the emergence of language; language is also considered as an important vehicle of communication which furthers and enhances ego development and object relations. The authors conclude with a partial integration of piagetian and psychoanalytic hypotheses regarding imitation and identity formation with the aim of stimulating further discussion on this topic.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arlow, J. Fantasy, memory and reality testing.Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 1969,38, 28–51.
Beebe, B., & Sloate, P. Assessment and treatment of difficulties in mother-infant attunement in the first three years of life: A case history.Psychoanalytic Inquiry, 1982,1, No. 4, 125–155.
Beebe, B., & Stern, D. Engagement-disengagement and early object experiences in N. Freedman and S. Grand (Eds.)Communicative structures and psychic structures. New York: Plenum, 1977.
Bell, S. M. The development of the concept of the object, as related to infant-mother attachment.Child Development, 1970,41 (2), 291–311.
Bell, S. M., & Ainsworth, M. D. Attachment, exploration, and separation: Illustrated by the behavior of one-year olds in a strange situation.Child Development, 1970,41 (11), 49–67.
Bloom, L.One word at a time: the use of single word utterances before syntax. Mouton: The Hague, 1973.
Bonnard, A. Primary process phenomena in the case of a borderline psychotic child.International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 1967,48, (2) 221–236.
Brown, E.A first language: The early stages. Harvard University Press Cambridge, Mass., 1973.
Bruner, J. S. Learning how to do things with words. InHuman Growth and Development, Bruner, J. S. & Garton A., (Eds.), 1978, Oxford: Clavendon Press, pp. 62–84.
Bruner, J. S. Early social interaction and language acquisition. InStudies in Mother-Infant Interaction. Schaffer, H. R., (Ed), 1977, Academic Press: New York.
Call, J. D. Some prelinguistic aspects of language development.Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 1980,28, 259–289.
Deutsch, H. Some forms of emotional disturbance and their relationship to schizophrenia. InNeuroses and Character Types. H. Deutsch (Ed.) New York: International Universities Press, 1965.
Edgecumbe, R. M. Towards a developmental line for the acquisition of language.Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, 1981,36, 71–103.
Fouts, G., & Liikanen, P. The effects of age and developmental level on imitation in children.Child Development, 1975,46 (2), 555–558.
Freud, S. The interpretation of dreams. InStandard Edition (vol. 4/5). London: Hogarth, 1953 (originally published, 1900).
Furth, H.Thinking without language. New York: Free Press, 1966.
Gaddini, E. On imitation.International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 1969,50 (2), 475–484.
Greenacre, P. The imposter.Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 1958,27, 359–382.
Greenacre, P. Early physical determinants in the development of the sense of identity.Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 1958,6, 612–627.
Hartmann, H., Kris, E., & Lowenstein, R. M. Notes on the theory of aggression.The Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, 1946,3/4, 9–36.
Hartmann, H., & Loewenstein, R. M. Notes on the superego.The Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, 1962,17, 42–81.
Guillaume, P.Imitation in children. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1971.
Hendrick, I. The early development of the ego: Identification in infancy.Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 1951,20 (1), 42–81.
Jacobson, E.Self and the object world. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, Monograph 2 New York: International Universities Press, 1964.
Jacobson, E.Depression: Comparative studies of normal, neurotic and psychotic conditions. New York: International Universities Press, 1971.
Kahn, M. M. Infantile neurosis as a false-self organization.Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 1971,40, 127–142.
Loewald, H. W. Internalization, separation, mourning and the superego.Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 1962,31, 483–504.
Mahler, M. S., Pine, F., & Bergman, A.The psychological birth of the human infant. New York: Basic Books, 1975.
McDevitt, J. The role of internalization in the development of object relations during the separation-individuation phase.Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 1979,27, 327–343.
Meissner, W. W. Notes on identification II: Clarification of related concepts.Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 1971,40, 227–302.
Meissner, W. W. Notes on identification III: The concept of identification.Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 1972,41, 224–260.
Meissner, W. W. Identification and learning.Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 1973,21, 788–816.
Meissner, W. W. Internalization as process.Psychoanalytic quarterly, 1976,45, 374–393.
Meissner, W. W. Internalization and object relations.Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 1979,27, 345–361.
Piaget, J.Play, dreams and imitation in childhood. New York: Norton, 1962. (originally published, 1945).
Piaget, J. Preface, InCausal thinking in the child. M. Laurendeau and A. Pinard (Eds.) New York: International Universities Press, 1962.
Piaget, J. Identity and conservation. InPiaget and his school. B. Inhelder and H. Chipman (Eds.), New York: Springer-Verlag, 1976.
Piaget, J.Mental imagery in the child. Basic Books: New York, 1971, p. 381.
Piaget, J.The language and thought of the child. New York: The World Publishing Company, 1971.
Pine, F. Issues posed by section I. InCommunicative structures and psychic structures. N. Freedman and S. Grand (Eds.) New York: Plenum Press, 1977.
Pine, F. Toward a theory of thinking. InOrganization and pathology of thought: Selected sources. D. Rapaport (Ed.) New York: Colubia University Press, 1951.
Pine, F. The theory of attention cathexis: an economic and structural attempt at the explanation of cognitive process. InThe collected papers of David Rapaport. New York: Basic Books, 1967. (originally published, 1959).
Rapaport, D. The theory of attention cathexis: an economic and structural attempt at the explanation of cognitive process (1959), pp. 778–794 InThe Collected Papers of David Rapaport, Merton M. Gill, (Ed.) New York: Basic Books, 1967.
Reich, A. Narcissistic object choic in women.Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 1953,1, 22–44.
Ritvo, S., & Provence, S. Form perception and imitation in some autistic children: Diagnostic findings and their contextual intepretation.The Psychoanalytic study of the child, 1953,8, 155–161.
Ritvo, S., & Provence & Solnit, A. J. The influence of early mother-child interaction on identification processes.The Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, 1958,13, 64–91.
Rubinfine, D. Maternal stimulation, psychic structure, and early object relations.The Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, 1962,17, 265–282.
Sander, J. & Rosenblatt, B. The concept of the representational world.The Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, 1962,17, 128–145.
Schafer, R.Aspects of internalization. New York: International Universities Press, 1968.
Shafer, H. R. and Emerson, P. E. The development of social attachment in infancy.Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 1964,29 (3) Serial #94, 1–77.
Spitz, R.The first year of life. New York: International Universities Press, 1965.
Spitz, R., The evolution of the dialogue. InDrives, Affects, Behavior, Vol. 2, M. Schur (Ed.) New York: International Universities Press, 1963.
Spitz, R.No and yes: on the genesis of human communication. New York: International Universities Press, 1957.
Steingart, I. On self, character, and the development of a psychic apparatus.The Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, 1969,24, 271–303.
Stern, D. Mother and infant at play: The dyadic interaction involving facial, vocal and gaze behaviors. InThe effect of the infant on its caregiver. M. Lewis and L. Rosenblum (Eds.) New York. Wiley, 1974.
Sroufe, L. A. & Waters, E. The ontogenesis of smiling and laughter: A perspective on the organization of development in infancy.Psychological Review, 1976,83 (3), 173–189.
Tronick, E., Heidelise, A., Adamson, L., Wise, S., and Brazelton, T. B. The infant's response to entrapment between contradictory messages in face to face interaction.Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 1978,17 (1), 1–13.
Uzgiris, I. Patterns of gestural imitation in infants. InProceedings of the symposium on genetic and social influences on psychological development: methodological approaches and research results F. Mouks and W. Hartup (Eds.). Base: Karger, 1972.
Wallerstein, R. Development and metapsychology of the defense organization.Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 1967,15, 130–149.
Werner, H., and Kaplan, B.Symbol Formation. New York: Wiley, 1963.
Winnicott, D. W.The maturational processes and the facilitating environment. New York: International Universities Press, 1965.
Winnicott, D. W. Mirror-role of mother and family in child development. InPlaying and reality. New York: Basic Books, 1971.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sloate, P.L., Voyat, G. Language and imitation in development. J Psycholinguist Res 12, 199–222 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01067411
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01067411