Abstract
The mutual enjoyment infants and caregivers experience when interacting with each other forms the foundation for human forms of communication, which then makes human languages and thinking possible. We explore the role of emotions and mutually joyful interaction in structuring the relationships in which communication emerges. Understanding communicative development is facilitated by reflecting on the social and emotional cradle infants experience consisting of the shared enjoyment in interaction in which infants and their caregivers engage. We build on work suggesting that enjoyable interaction with others becomes a goal in itself, and infants learn new ways to achieve this goal using their own actions such as clowning as well as using objects to engage others’ attention. This interaction plays a role first in the emergence of gestures, and then language, which is crucial in making human forms of thinking possible. Furthermore, this enjoyment of interacting with others is also central to the development of prosocial and moral action.
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ARTICLE
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