Hidehiro Ohgami

Development of preference for baby faces across species in humans (Homo sapiens)

Previous studies have revealed that there is a close relationship between the strength of an infant’s baby schema and the degree of its perceived cuteness. The present study investigated the development of preference for baby schema in humans by examining the recognition of the cuteness of baby faces; two studies were conducted to examine whether children’s evaluation of cuteness differed from that of adults. Facial photographs not only of humans (Homo sapiens), but a chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), dogs (Canis familiaris) and cats (Felis sylvestris catus) at different ages were used as stimuli. The volunteers were requested to rank these photographs in order of cuteness. Study 1 suggested that there was a range of period during which adults perceived the faces of these five species to be the cutest. Study 2 indicated that children’s judgment of cuteness closely corresponded to that of the adults. In conclusion, the preference for baby schema is observed in humans even before they get to be sexually mature enough to reproduce. Childhood preference for baby schema might be the basis of social learning, including caretaking behaviors.

Imitative behaviors facilitate communicative gaze in children with autism

Adult imitation of children with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) is likely to be effective in facilitating their communicative gaze behaviors. This study compared imitative behaviors to contingent, but not-imitative, behaviors in children with ASD and those with typical development (TD). The caretakers were asked to play an imitative role to explore the effects of imitation intervention on parenting. The results indicated that children with ASD gazed longer at imitative behaviors than mere contingent behaviors while children with TD gazed at their mother irrespective of her type of intervention. The present study highlights the benefits of caretakers using imitation while caring for children with ASD. The power of imitation for children with ASD suggests its therapeutic application to home-based intervention by caretakers.

SHARED MINDS : EFFECTS OF A MOTHER'S IMITATION OF HER CHILD ON THE MOTHER-CHILD INTERACTION

Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have impaired social interaction right from early development. Previous studies (Dawson & Adams, 1984; Tiegerman & Primavera, 1981, 1984) have suggested that imitating children with ASD is effective in facilitating their social behaviors. The present case report, through a 6-month intervention, investigated how a home-based intervention of helping a mother imitate her 21-month-old child with ASD impacted the childs development of social communication outside the experimental settings. Our results show that the mothers imitation of her child might be associated with the development of nonverbal joint attention skills. Positive changes in the mothers emotion towards her child and the mother-child interaction also were noted and represent other important effects of parental involvement in therapeutic interventions for children with ASD.