joint attention

attention overtly focused by two or more people on the same object, person, or action at the same time, with each being aware of the other’s interest. Joint attention is an important developmental tool. Infants of around 9 months old can follow their parents’ gaze and begin to imitate what their parents do. By thus focusing attention on an object as well as on the adult’s reaction to it, children can learn about the world. This technique is also used in primate studies (see enculturation). Also called shared attention.

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Psychology term of the day

July 27th 2024

primary insomnia

in DSM–IV–TR, a sleep disorder characterized by difficulty in initiating or maintaining a restorative sleep to a degree in which the severity and persistence of the sleep disturbance causes clinically significant distress, impairment in a significant area of functioning, or both. The disorder is not caused by a general medical condition or the effects of a substance and is not exclusively an aspect of another sleep disorder or mental disorder. It is termed insomnia disorder in DSM–5. See dyssomnia. Compare primary hypersomnia.