Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-r5fsc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-27T20:56:31.994Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Features of Interaction in Infant Twins

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

P.M. Clark  and
Z. Dickman
P.M. Clark*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Natal, Durban, South Africa
Z. Dickman
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Natal, Durban, South Africa
*
Department of Psychology, University of Natal, King George V Avenue, Durban 4001, South Africa

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Twins, more than any other home reared infants, experience intimate and usually continuous interaction with an age-mate from early infancy. The effects of this situation are examined and its implications for both the emotional and cognitive development are discussed in the light of evidence from two studies in which play sessions were video-recorded and subsequently analysed into behavioural categories. The first was a longitudinal study of a single pair of twins, while the second was a short-term study of interaction and cooperation in infants in the 9 to 20 months range. Five pairs of twins, 5 pairs of familiar peers, and the children's mothers were observed playing a structured cooperative game. The hypothesis is advanced that twins enjoy more emotional support but less intellectual stimulation than singletons and it is suggested that social enrichment of the environment of twins could foster social and cognitive development.

Keywords

TwinsInfant peersSocial interactionParenting practicesCognitive development
Type
Twin Development and Temperament
Information
Acta geneticae medicae et gemellologiae: twin research , Volume 33 , Issue 2 , April 1984 , pp. 165 - 171
Copyright
Copyright © The International Society for Twin Studies 1984

References

REFERENCES

1.Albino, RC, Krige, PD (1978. Note on a child development research and teaching laboratory facility. J Behav Sci 2:297–300.Google Scholar
2.Bronson, WC (1981): Toddlers' Behaviour with Agemates: Issues of Interaction, Cognition and Affect. In Lipsitt, Lewis P (ed): Monographs on Infancy. Norwood, NJ: Ablex Publishing Company.Google Scholar
3.Clark, PM (1980): Language retardation in twins: the wider implications. Paper presented at the National Psychology Congress, Johannesburg.Google Scholar
4.Clark, PM, Krige, PD (1979): A study of interaction between infant peers. Paper presented at the Second Joint Congress of S.A.P.A. and P.I.R.S.A., Potchefstroom.Google Scholar
5.Costello, A (1975): New insights into the development of young children. In Lewin, R (ed): Child Alive. London: Temple Smith.Google Scholar
6.Day, EJ (1932. The development of language in twins. II. Child Dev 3:179–199.Google Scholar
7.Lytton, H, Conway, D, Sauvé, R (1977. The impact of twinship on parent-child interaction. J Pers Soc Psychol 35:97–109.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8.Madge, EM (1984): 'n Verkenningstudie ten opsigte van tweelinge in twee Suid-Afrikaanse Höerskool populasies. Human Sciences Research Council Report, Pretoria.Google Scholar
9.Mueller, E, Lucas, T (1975): A developmental analysis of peer interaction among toddlers. In Lewis, M, Rosenblum, A (eds): Friendship and Peer Relations. New York: Wiley.Google Scholar
10.Musatti, T, Panni, S (1981. Social behaviour and interaction among day-care centre toddlers. Early Child Dev Care 7:5–27.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11.Record, R.McKeown, T, Edwards, JH (1970. An investigation of the difference in measured intelligence between twins and single births. Ann Hum Genet 34:11–20.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12.Rutter, M, Mittler, P (1972): Environmental influences on language development. In Rutter, M, Martin, JA (eds): The Child with Delayed Speech. London: Spastics International, Heinemann.Google Scholar
13.Savic, S (1980): How Twins Learn to Talk. London: Academic Press.Google Scholar
14.Tulkin, SR, Covitz, FE (1975): Mother-infant interaction and intellectual functioning at age six. Paper presented at the meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Denver.Google Scholar
15.White, BL, Kaban, BT, Attanucci, JS (1979): “The Origins of Human Competence: The Final Report of the Harvard Preschool Project”. Lexington, Mass: DC Heath and Company.Google Scholar
16.Wilson, RS (1974. Twins: Mental development in the preschool years. Dev Psychol 10:580–588.CrossRefGoogle Scholar