Investigating the origins of intrinsic motivation in human infants

Abstract

One of the earliest behaviors driven by intrinsic motivation is visual exploration. In this chapter, I highlight how the development of this capacity is influenced not only by changes in the brain that take place after birth but also by the acquisition of oculomotor skill. To provide a context for interpreting these developmental changes, I then survey three theoretical perspectives that are available for explaining how and why visual exploration develops. Next, I describe work on the development of perceptual completion, which offers a case study on the development of visual exploration and the role of oculomotor skill. I conclude by discussing a number of challenges and open questions that are suggested by this work.