Research Paper on:
A Research Proposal; Representational Abilities in Infant Imitation

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language but also actions and reactions that then develop for later stages of development by learning from others. There are differing types of imitation that take place, the movement  or a hand may be observed and the infant can then imitate and see that they are imitating by watching the movement of their own hand or arm after watching  that of the person they are imitating. Talking is also one that can make use of comparisons, listening to what they hear and seeking to make the same sounds, comparing  the results. These models that explain much of the imitation that takes place, as with the studies of Kuhl and Meltzoff (1996), but these do not explain other imitations such  as the way in which facial expressions are imitated, as no comparison can be made. There is no way the infant can see the results, and they do not know  how the individual the are imitating feels when they are making the facial expressions, and as such cannot make the comparison using that type of comparison. Meltzoff and Moore,  (1997) examine this and argue that some explanation may come form the classical theories of Piaget. Piaget argues that experimental learning takes place and the use of self explanation, feeling  the their own face may explain some of the imitation (Piaget, 1962). However, it is still recognised that this is not a total explanation (Meltzoff and Moore, 1997).  Several studies have taken place to explain how this imitations takes place, however, in this research we will look to ascertain if there are  some areas where there is a higher motivation or willingness to imitate certain facial behaviours or expressions, and to assess if these are associated with movements or noises that may