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The Two Functions of Imitation in the Second Year of Life: A Longitudinal Study

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Title: The Two Functions of Imitation in the Second Year of Life: A Longitudinal Study
Language: English
Authors: Franziska Sieber (ORCID 0009-0003-0019-6613), Jan Czarnomski, Axel Schölmerich (ORCID 0000-0002-2597-3365), Moritz M. Daum (ORCID 0000-0002-4032-4574), Norbert Zmyj (ORCID 0000-0003-2603-0729)
Source: Developmental Psychology. 2025 61(9):1653-1668.
Availability: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 16
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Imitation, Infants, Infant Behavior, Child Development, Cognitive Development, Social Development, Foreign Countries, Toddlers, Personality
Geographic Terms: Germany
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development
DOI: 10.1037/dev0001856
ISSN: 0012-1649
1939-0599
Abstract: Infant imitation serves a cognitive and a social function. As part of their temperament, infants' attention and social orientation mirror these two functions. This longitudinal study investigated the development of the two functions within the second year of life in German infants (N = 136, 74 female), using standardized tests at the ages of 12, 18, and 24 months, conducted in 2018 and 2019. We measured temperament using two established parental questionnaires (Infant Behavior Questionnaire Revised, Early Childhood Behavior Questionnaire) and behavioral observation (Laboratory Temperament Assessment Battery), imitation using the Frankfurt Imitation Test, and cognitive development using the Cognitive Scale of the Bayley Scales. Hierarchical regressions revealed an association between imitation and social orientation from 12 months onward, whereas no clear relation emerged between imitation and attentional variables independently of infants' cognitive development. The findings suggest that imitation serves a primarily social function early in life.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1502545
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Franziska+Sieber%22">Franziska Sieber</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0003-0019-6613">0009-0003-0019-6613</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jan+Czarnomski%22">Jan Czarnomski</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Axel+Schölmerich%22">Axel Schölmerich</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2597-3365">0000-0002-2597-3365</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Moritz+M%2E+Daum%22">Moritz M. Daum</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4032-4574">0000-0002-4032-4574</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Norbert+Zmyj%22">Norbert Zmyj</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2603-0729">0000-0003-2603-0729</externalLink>)
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  Data: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
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  Data: Infant imitation serves a cognitive and a social function. As part of their temperament, infants' attention and social orientation mirror these two functions. This longitudinal study investigated the development of the two functions within the second year of life in German infants (N = 136, 74 female), using standardized tests at the ages of 12, 18, and 24 months, conducted in 2018 and 2019. We measured temperament using two established parental questionnaires (Infant Behavior Questionnaire Revised, Early Childhood Behavior Questionnaire) and behavioral observation (Laboratory Temperament Assessment Battery), imitation using the Frankfurt Imitation Test, and cognitive development using the Cognitive Scale of the Bayley Scales. Hierarchical regressions revealed an association between imitation and social orientation from 12 months onward, whereas no clear relation emerged between imitation and attentional variables independently of infants' cognitive development. The findings suggest that imitation serves a primarily social function early in life.
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  Data: 2026
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      – Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Infant Behavior
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      – SubjectFull: Germany
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