LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 14:11 November 2014
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         S. M. Ravichandran, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
         C. Subburaman, Ph.D. (Economics)
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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Trends in the Development of Rhythmical Hand Behaviours in
Infants

Mili Mathew
Dr. R. Manjula

Abstract

Infants are reported to produce large amounts of rhythmical behaviours, like kicking, banging, rocking, waving, bouncing, swaying and such. The present study examined the development of rhythmical hand behaviours, in order to understand the trends in the emergence of these behaviours. Participants included nine infants who were longitudinally studied for the duration of 10 months, between 3 and 12 months of age. The infants were observed for six types of rhythmic behaviours (cycling, bang, swing, shake, flex and twist) as they co occurred with speech behaviors, and a measure of rate of co-occurrence was calculated. Results indicated that rhythmical behaviours were present from the young age of 3 months, with changes in the occurrence rate as they grew older. There were also variations seen in the rates of occurrence with respect to hand preference and some indicators of cultural variations with respect to few of these rhythmical behaviours.

Key words: Rhythmical hand behaviours; longitudinal design; rate of occurrence; growth trends.

Introduction

Rhythmical stereotypes are a part of the behavioral repertoire of insects, fish, birds and is less common in mammals (Schleidt, 1974). In primates, these stereotyped behaviours are uncommon and are considered pathological. Among non-human primates, these have not been observed in free animals, but are seen in animals caged in small enclosures or those raised in social isolation (Berkson, 1968). In humans, stereotypy is usually associated with not-so-typical populations, like children with autism, individuals who are blind, and those who are emotionally disturbed (Berkson & Davenport, 1962).

When compared to other primates, stereotypy is the hallmark of typically developing human infants during a stage in the lifecycle (Kravitz & Boehm, 1971). Infants are reported to produce large amounts of rhythmical behaviours, like kicking, banging, rocking, waving, bouncing, swaying and such. These behaviours occur very frequently and infants are seen to enjoy and absorb these acts, though it is difficult to ascribe a purpose for these movements.

There has been considerable debate regarding the functions of these stereotypical behaviours seen in infants. Psychoanalysts have suggested that stereotypy could be a sign of emotional development, such as an attempt to recreate rhythmical prenatal experiences or as a result of an infant being confined to a small space (Kris, 1954; Levy, 1944). Piaget (1954) observed that the repetitive movement are ‘secondary circular reactions’ since an infant repeats activities that have an interesting effect on the environment, thus serving as a sign of cognitive development. It has also been noted that certain rhythmical behaviours are associated with particular stages of neuromuscular maturation, and therefore suggest that rhythmic patterns appear in the transition stages of motor development (Kravitz & Boehm, 1971).

Schleidt (1974) proposed that repetition of a signal could increase its potency for communication, since caregivers may consider these behaviours as intentional. A study on ‘fussy’ infants reported that the increased levels of arousal in a baby facilitated the release of rhythmic motor output, which in turn accentuated their cry for distress and received a hastened response from the caregiver (Thelen & Fisher, 1982). This result suggests that rhythmic movements may communicate infant affect.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Mili Mary Mathew, Ph.D. Research Scholar
All India Institute of Speech and Hearing
Mysore 570006
Karnataka
India
milimarym@gmail.com

Dr. R. Manjula
Professor and HOD
Speech Language Pathology
All India Institute of Speech and Hearing
Mysore 570006
Karnataka
India
rmanjula08@gmail.com

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