Psychology
Nonverbal Intersubjective Engagements. (Psychology, Atypical Development, Animal Behaviour)
Members: Professor Vasu Reddy, Dr. Beatriz Lopez, Dr. Juliane Kaminski, Ms. C. Costantini, Ms. V. Fantasia, Mr. N. Kargas (Psych); Dr. J. Delafield-Butt (Psych, Ext), Dr. H. de Jaegher (Cognitive Science, Ext)
Research Example: Nonverbal Intersubjective Engagements
Babies – even two month-olds - can interact with themselves in mirrors, responding to the other in the mirror with interest to smiles, (Reddy 2000) and testing ( Reddy et al, 2007). Such interactions reveal the presence of early emotional reactions and early interests in exploring contingencies. The practice of ‘talking’ to yourself can carry on into adulthood (as some of us might know)! Children with autism (Reddy et al, 2010) and children with Down syndrome also love mirrors, although they use the mirror in different ways, treating themselves as social audiences or exploring reflections and testing effects.
Programmes: Attentional and intentional engagements in infants (Reddy, Costantini, Fantasia, Delafield-Butt) and in Adults (Reddy, de Jaegher) and in Dogs (Kaminski); Sensory and Interactive skills in Autism (Lopez, Kargas); Attentional awareness in Dogs(Kaminski)