A theory of Dekigoto：Reconsideration of Developmental Origin of Triad Interactions and Understanding Pretence in Others
Year: 2004
Type: article
Abstract: In this essay, the function of event, happening, and incident (dekigoto in Japanese) in interpersonal interactions is considered.First, dekigoto are classified into two types, dekigoto led by natural or accidental causes, and those that are designed deliberately.The latter are further divided into dekigoto designed by malign or benign intention.One is dekigoto designed to give damage to the victim, and the other is one to elicit laughter and share playfulness with the interactive partner.Playful teasing is a typical example of this benign dekigoto intention.Because in playful teasing, mothers engage in pretence teasing, the key task is to establish whether infants can read their mother's playful intentions underlying her teasing acts.Two aspects of social development in infancy are examined.One is that dyad (person-person) interactions may be reconsidered as a person-dekigoto-person triad structure.In particular, the developmental transition from primary to secondary intersubjectivity may be better explained from a viewpoint of dekigoto.It is also proposed that the origin of understanding mother's teasing actions to be pretence, may be found in infancy, because studies have demonstrated that infants laugh at their mother's teasing behaviour.
Author: Shigeru Nakano
Language: English
Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W646234088