Infants' Sense of People

This insightful exploration of early human development reveals how infants form an understanding of others, as presented in Infants' Sense of People.

The book Infants' Sense of People delves into the fascinating world of infants during their first year of life, examining how they begin to perceive and understand other individuals. It explores the development of their awareness regarding feelings, emotions, and intentions, highlighting how these elements play a crucial role in their own growth. The author, Maria Legerstee, draws on extensive research and developmental theories to argue that infants possess an innate sense of people from birth, which is activated through emotional connections with others.

Legerstee challenges conventional beliefs that infants rely solely on physical cues, such as motion or contingencies, to differentiate between people and objects. Instead, she posits that infants engage in interactions with others even before they acquire language, thanks to a primitive pre-linguistic 'theory of mind.' This perspective offers a refreshing take on early social and cognitive development, suggesting that infants are not merely mechanical beings waiting to evolve into psychological entities.

Infants' Sense of People serves as an accessible introduction to the origins of our understanding of others, synthesizing contemporary ideas about early social interactions and cognitive growth. It provides valuable insights into the complex interplay of emotions and social awareness that shape an infant's development, making it an essential read for anyone interested in child psychology and developmental studies.