Object permanence

Object permanence

1. Piaget, object permanence

   • <9 mth, failed even though physically capable
     • A not B error, fragile memory trace
       • Perseveration error, looking under cloth A when seen hidden under B
         • Repeating previous action even though now out of context
           • Egocenticism- toy found because of action not thought

2. Bower et al - 2 mth appeared to expect train to emerge

   • Gaze pattern Suggests they knew it still existed whilst out of sight
     • Study did not need physical capabilities
       • Further study show baby continue to track train after stopped
         • Suggests baby can't stop tracking once started

3. Baillargeon et al

   • 5 mth, rotation of drawbridge, impossible event & novel event
     • Baby showed more interest when block did not obstruct when it should have- impossible
       • Novel event, rotation stopped by block
         • Suggests they believe block exists & understood it should be obstacle
           • Replicated at 6-8 mth
             • More attention paid to habituated but impossible event
               • Car emerging in a road block condition, knew car should not get through

4. Method, habituation

   • Based on baby losing interest in event seen many times
     • Violation of expectations
       • Spend longer looking at something they believe impossible

5. Aguilar & Baillargeon

   • Suggest babies understand that hidden objects exist
     • Show progression of understanding of hidden objects

6. Hood & Willats

   • 5 mth, more likely to reach in direction of interesting object seen before lights out

7. Harris, delay in searching A not B task

   • Memory for new hiding place fragile & short delay disrupts

8. Butterworth

   • Error still made with transparent cloth
     • 2 ways to code position, when objects moved
       • Egocentric code- position in relation to self
         • Allo centric code- position in relation to another object
           • If toy moved but not cloth, only one code has changed

9. Diamond

   • Vary length of delay
     • Better able to cope with age as short term memory improves
       • Suggests when info from temp memory fades, habitual response takes over