Felles oppmerksomhet og forståelsen av andres tanker, intensjoner og følelser i spedbarnsalderen

Joint attention in infancy is a phenomenon introduced by Jerome Bruner in the 1970s. It was subsequently studied by developmental psychologists who were interested in preverbal and early verbal communication. They initiated research that led to important advances in understanding the early development of language. More recently, the study of joint attention has helped elucidate epistemological questions such as, «how do infants and toddlers become aware of other minds, and how do they come to realize that other minds know theirs» (Bruner, 1995, p. 1). The present paper reviews four models that attempt to explain the association between early joint attention skills and later social competence. It questions the supposition that infants experience a cognitive revolution at approximately 9 months of age, and it discusses some common assumptions in this area of research.