Imitation of Peers and Adults in a Natural Setting: A Functional Analysis

Abstract

GRUSEC, JOAN E., and ABRAMOVITCH, RONA. Imitation of Peers and Adults in a Natural Setting: A Functional Analysis. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1982, 53, 636-642. 2 studies were done in which events following children's imitation were observed. In the first study, immediate imitation of peers was observed during free play in 4 groups of preschoolers ranging in age from 23 months to 5 years. Amount of imitation decreased with age. A majority of imitations were followed by positive consequences in the form of maintained or increased social interaction, including counterimitation. Children whose imitations were successful in this sense imitated more, while those who responded positively to being imitated were imitated more. Generally there was a positive relationship between dominance and being imitated. There were no sex differences in imitating or being imitated. In the second study, immediate imitation of both peers and adults was observed in 6 groups of preschoolers ranging in age from 27 months to 5 years. The results for peer imitation replicated those of the first study. In addition, most of the children's imitations of adults were followed by positive consequences, although the content of peer and adult imitation differed.