When we think about the growth and learning of babies in the first months of their lives, we pay more attention to the learning they have in relation to the world around them. For example, how infants are attracted to other people’s faces, play with toys, and interact with objects. But an important aspect that is less addressed is the learning of babies in relation to their bodies and their inner senses.
Inner perception: How do we feel our body?
The human brain continuously receives signals from the body. For example, every time the heart beats, these signals are sent to the brain via the vagus nerve. This process, called interoception, helps the brain process internal body changes such as heart rate, breathing, and temperature.
Most of the time, these sensations are not “conscious” to us. Body rhythms such as heartbeat, breathing and lung movements flow in the background of our daily life and we pay less attention to them. But at certain times, these senses give us important information that requires a reaction. For example, when we feel hungry, our body tells us to eat. Or when we are running to catch the bus, the heart rate increases so that the muscles receive more oxygen.
Intuition and Emotions: Why Does It Matter?
In addition to helping us recognize our physical needs, intuition plays an important role in how we experience our emotions. For example, stress and anxiety are associated with increased heart rate. Likewise, excitement and happiness can also increase the heart rate. These changes in the body help us experience different emotions, but the way they are interpreted is different for each person.
For babies, who are naturally more vulnerable than adults, insight is especially important. Because the body of infants is not able to automatically regulate many physical needs such as hunger, temperature and comfort and depends on environmental care. For example, when a baby is held or gently rocked, his heart rate decreases and his body temperature is better maintained.
Intuition in infants: How can we measure it?
Before babies can speak words, one of the ways they can express their feelings is by looking at objects. Research done with babies shows that babies tend to look more at new or unfamiliar objects. This looking behavior acts as a learning mechanism that helps babies gather more information.
One of the interesting methods used to check the ability of babies to detect their heartbeat is the iBEATS test. In this experiment, babies look at two animated characters whose movements depend on the baby’s heart rate. This experiment shows that five-month-old babies are able to tell the difference between synchronous and non-synchronous movements with their heartbeat.
Studies have shown that 3-month-old and 9-month-old babies can also show differences in this area, indicating that even at these ages, babies can feel their heartbeats differently.
Do Babies Really “Feel” Their Heartbeats?
It is difficult for many people to understand bodily sensations because they are not visible to the human eye. This is especially complicated for infants, as they cannot verbalize these experiences. The iBEATS test tells us that babies can detect their internal body signals, but that doesn’t mean that babies can consciously understand their own heartbeats like adults.
However, research shows that internal understanding during infancy can contribute to the infant’s social and emotional processes and play an important role in the formation of emotional experiences and their communication.
The role of internal perception in social relations of infants
Introspection is not only important for managing the physical and emotional needs of infants, but also has a large impact on their early social relationships. Babies interact with the world around them from birth, and these interactions can affect how they relate to others. For example, when a baby is held or caressed, he receives an experience of comfort and security. These sensations help him understand that he is in a safe and cared for environment, and gradually recognize his feelings and needs through these early social interactions.
Introspection can also have a big impact on how a baby interacts with other family members or caregivers. Babies learn to express their feelings in certain ways through the emotional and physical experiences they receive through introspection. For example, when a baby cries when it is hungry or upset, this reaction nonverbally signals to the caregiver that it needs attention and care. For this reason, inner understanding can play a vital role in strengthening the relationship between the baby and its caregivers.
Internal perception and its effects on the emotional development of infants
In addition to the important role of internal understanding in the social communication of infants, this process has a great impact on their emotional and psychological development. In-body experiences, such as changes in heart rate, breathing, and other physical sensations, can help infants identify and effectively cope with their emotional experiences.
For example, when infants feel anxious or stressed, they detect these changes in their bodies through internal perception. On the other hand, when they feel safe and calm, these physical experiences are also transferred to the brain through internal perception. This helps babies better understand their emotions and process them effectively.
Over time, babies learn to cope with their emotional experiences and are gradually able to respond more appropriately. For example, they may start crying when they feel pain or discomfort, or they may play and interact more with others when they feel comfortable and relaxed. Introspection allows babies to understand their emotions and deal with them in a natural and appropriate way.
Tips for parents to support the baby’s inner understanding
Parents and caregivers can use some methods to help babies to have a better experience of their inner understanding and thus help their social and emotional development. Some of these methods include:
- Physical and emotional care: Caressing, hugging and rocking the baby can help him calm down and provide a sense of security and comfort.
- Stable emotional relationships: A close and positive relationship with the caregivers helps the baby to identify his feelings better and be able to deal with them effectively.
- Attention to physical changes: Paying attention to the baby’s physical changes and responding to his needs such as hunger, sleep and comfort can help strengthen the feelings of safety and comfort in the baby.
- Encourage play and social interaction: Providing an environment where babies can freely interact with others helps them understand their emotions better and establish stronger social relationships.
Inner understanding, the key to the emotional and social development of babies
Intuition not only helps infants identify their physical needs, but also plays an important role in shaping their emotional and social experiences. This process allows them to relate to their physical changes and understand and express their feelings. Therefore, parents and caregivers can help the healthy and successful development of babies by paying attention to the emotional and physical needs of the baby and creating a safe and caring environment.
Finally, inner understanding is one of the vital aspects of baby’s development that has a great impact on their emotional, social and communication development and can be the foundation of a healthy and balanced emotional life in the future.
Source: psychologytoday
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