DiYanni Cara, Kelemen Deborah
Department of Psychology, Rider University, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, USA.
J Exp Child Psychol. 2008 Dec;101(4):241-61. doi: 10.1016/j.jecp.2008.05.002. Epub 2008 Jun 30.
We present three studies exploring 2- to 4-year-olds' imitation on witnessing a model whose questionable tool use choices suggested her untrustworthiness. In Study 1, children observed the model accidentally select a physically optimal tool for a task and then intentionally reject it for one that was functionally nonaffordant. When asked to perform the task for her, children at all ages ignored the model's intentional cues and selected the optimal tool. Study 2 found that when the model's nonaffordant tool choice was emphasized by claims about its design, 3-year-olds increased imitation. They also imitated, as did 2-year-olds, when the model selected a suboptimal rather than nonaffordant tool. The 4-year-olds consistently avoided imitation. Study 3 replicated these findings with new tools and participants. Additional measures indicated that knowledge about artifact design predicted children's tendency to ignore the model. These results shed light on developmental trends in the social and cognitive functions of imitation.
我们展示了三项研究，这些研究探讨了2至4岁儿童在目睹一个模型时的模仿行为，该模型可疑的工具使用选择表明了她的不可信。在研究1中，孩子们观察到模型意外地为一项任务选择了一个物理上最优的工具，然后又故意拒绝它而选择了一个功能上不适用的工具。当被要求为她执行任务时，所有年龄段的孩子都忽略了模型的故意暗示，选择了最优工具。研究2发现，当通过关于其设计的说法强调模型的不适用工具选择时，3岁儿童的模仿行为增加。当模型选择次优而非不适用的工具时，2岁儿童也会模仿，而4岁儿童则一直避免模仿。研究3用新的工具和参与者重复了这些发现。额外的测量表明，关于人工制品设计的知识预测了儿童忽略模型的倾向。这些结果揭示了模仿在社会和认知功能方面的发展趋势。
