Deferred imitation is a phenomenon in which a person is observed to reproduce an observed action after a period of time has passed. This phenomenon has been studied in the field of psychology and cognitive development. The purpose of this article is to review the current findings on deferred imitation and discuss its implications.
Deferred imitation was first identified by Piaget and Inhelder (1956) as a type of memory that enabled children to remember and reproduce an action observed in the past. Subsequent studies have explored how deferred imitation is affected by age, context, and other factors. For example, Szumski, Gibson, and Robinson (2015) found that infants from 8-12 months of age were more likely to reproduce deferred imitation when the context of the observed action was familiar. In addition, studies have shown that deferred imitation is a complex phenomenon that involves multiple cognitive processes such as memory, attention, and executive functioning (Klein et al., 2016).
The findings of these studies suggest that deferred imitation is a multifaceted phenomenon which is affected by a number of factors. Deferred imitation has also been linked to the development of higher-order cognitive skills such as problem-solving and executive functioning. This suggests that deferred imitation may be an important component of cognitive development.
In conclusion, deferred imitation is a complex phenomenon that is affected by a number of factors. It has been linked to the development of higher-order cognitive skills and may be an important component of cognitive development. Further research is needed to fully understand the role of deferred imitation in cognitive development and its implications for educational and therapeutic interventions.
References
Klein, M., Siegel, L. S., Robinson, E. J., & Gibson, B. S. (2016). Deferred imitation: What have we learned and where should we go next? Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00012
Piaget, J., & Inhelder, B. (1956). The psychology of the child. New York, NY: Basic Books.
Szumski, G., Gibson, B. S., & Robinson, E. J. (2015). Deferred imitation in infancy: Age-related changes in memory and context. Infant Behavior and Development, 39, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infbeh.2015.04.004