- 20.03.2025
The Role of Imitation in Children's Emotional Development
The literal perception of on-screen images implies that a child registers vivid visual and emotional signals directly, without additional cognitive processing; in contrast, reflexive perception leads to an automatic, almost instinctive copying of the behavioral models seen. This means that when a child observes emotionally charged behavior on screen, he involuntarily accepts it as a natural example worth repeating. In the process, the child activates a fundamental imitation mechanism that starts working in the earliest months of life, enabling him to not only mimic specific gestures or facial expressions but also to absorb the emotional content of what he sees.