ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors examine the nature of early interaction and also how their understanding of it has become more refined, and outlines distinct stages in its development. They describe four stages in mother-infant interaction. The stages can be described as follows: horneostatic control, prolonging of attention and interaction, testing limits, and the emergence of autonomy. The first task for infants is to achieve control over their input and output systems. They must be able to shut out as well as to receive stimuli, and also to control their own states and physiological systems. In prolonging of attention and interaction stage, infants begin actively to prolong interaction with an important adult. As they control their motor and autonomic systems in order to pay attention, they become aware of their capacity to master this process. With the possibility of an extended dialogue in place, both parents and infants begin to test and stretch the infant's limits.
