Child Development

imitation plays an important role in the development
of symbolic thought because the child is able to imag-
ine behaviors observed in the past and to recreate
them as imitated behaviors. Thus, a repertoire of sig-
nifiers is built that becomes connected to significates
through assimilation of events and actions to those
signifiers. The development of language arises from
symbolic functions, which in turn facilitates develop-
ment of symbolic thought.

See also: PIAGET, JEAN

Bibliography

Piaget, Jean. Psychology of Intelligence. New Jersey: Littlefield,

Adams, and Company, 1966.

Dennis L. Molfese

Victoria J. Molfese

Julia Robinson

400 SYMBOLIC THOUGHT