The Symbolism of Pictures

Clara YoonNathan Winkler-Rhoades

What are symbols?

Something that stands for something elseNot necessarily similar to their referentNot natural – Created

Use of symbols ~ 18 monthsWords, gestures, pictures?

By 18 months…

Words are interpreted referentially (Xu, et al. 2005)

Paradigm: Two-word trial, One-word trialSurprised when # of kinds didn’t match # of labelsAt chance for emotional expressionsWorks at 10 months

Iconic gestures are recognized (Tomasello et al., 1999)

Children take a hammering motion as referring to hammers, e.g.

Pictures as Symbols

Why are we interested in pictures?Different from other symbols?

On one theory, pictures are more salient as objects than words or gestures, and hence harder to see as symbols

Pictures present a puzzle:Innate ability to perceive content of pictures (Hochberg and Brookes 1969)

Yet apparent difficulty understanding that they refer to the world

‘Pygmalion’ errors (DeLoache, et al. 1998)

Dollhouse task failure until 30 months (DeLoache, 1991, 2000)

Pictures as Symbols

To review:At first, mistake for actual referentsSomehow eventually, like adults, children recognize symbols as representations

Dual representationAt what point recognize symbolic significance?

Role of Language

Language plays role?Attract attentionMediates reference

Evidence of its importanceCallaghan (2000)

Match picture with objectOnly success when lexical labels could individuate themOnly when familiar

Winkler-RhoadesNo label, designate map for placing doll, not targetsUnfamiliar, need labels (?)

ISU - Questions

How do we learn that pictures can refer to things? That they can inform us about how the world is?Does language play a role in helping children figure out representational status of pictures?

Xu and Baker (2005)

Modified manual search procedureTo understand how infants use property or kind info for object individuation

Xu and Baker (2005) Results

Infants looked longer on switch trialsLabels did not matterFamiliarity did not matter

For us, important to establish that they would be surprised at switch trials

ISU – Pilot Method

18 month olds11 in familiar label, 7 in novel label, 7 in novel no labelVery similar to Xu and Baker (2005)

Box and novel objectsSwitch trials and non-switch trialsFamiliar, unfamiliarLabeled, unlabeled

Who wants to be a baby?

TrueTrial

False Trial

ISU - Pilot Alternatives/Logic

Longer reaching time on Switch than No SwitchExpect the same object to be present, confused

No difference in reaching time between Switch and No Switch (at chance)

No expectations on what object should be presentPerhaps just interest in reaching, or not reaching

Labels/Familiar Alternatives

LabelsIncreased recognition of symbolic significanceAt chance

FamiliarityIncreased recognition of symbolic significanceAt chance

ISU - Pilot Results – Label Cond.

n=11 n=7

ISU - Method

Same general procedureUse pictures instead of first object remove/replaceStill Switch/No Switch trialsStill novel objectsFamiliar/UnfamiliarLabel/No label

ISU – Alternatives/Logic

Could use picture as symbolOn Switch trials, longer reaching timeUse picture to signify one object insideConfusion on why other object

Could NOT use picture as symbolNo difference in reaching times between Switch and No Switch

Doesn’t use picture as information at allNo expectationsAt chance

Further Directions

Specific/generic?Older/younger?Within same kind?Any ideas from you?