Abstract
This study aimed to identify and analyze parental conceptions of the communicative intent of infants at 3 and 6 months in the first year of life. A longitudinal design was used, including 20 mothers and 20 fathers who were interviewed in two stages. The interviews were literally transcribed and then qualitatively analyzed. It was identified more similarities than differences between maternal and paternal speeches. It was found that parental reports presented conceptions that specific child behavior may be evidence of intentional communication skills. Especially in the second stage, when infants were 6 months old, parents mentioned child behavior that seemed to express wishes and indicate intention. Knowledge of these concepts is important for understanding the early relations between parents and their children.
Keywords:
social cognition; intentionality; infant development; parent-child relationships