ABSTRACT
Unipolar shape flow provides the foundation for a more mature pattern of movement, shaping in directions. Using unipolar shape flow to shrink away from noxious stimuli and grow toward attractive stimuli offers an emotionally laden mode of response to people and objects in the environment. Shaping in directions emerges when the child begins to project an arm, leg, or other body part into space along linear or arc-like vectors. Research in the fields of psychology and nonverbal behaviour supports the Kestenberg Movement Profile (KMP) posited developmental progression from the predominance of unipolar shape flow to later predominance of shaping in directions. Shaping in directions movements appear to be very simple gestures such as gazing or pointing sideways or across, up or down, and forward or backward. The chapter looks across the KMP diagram to find matches and mismatches with pre-efforts.
