The term imitation in psychological terms refers to the copying or mimicking of patterns of behaviour. This essay will evaluate the importance of imitation in infancy using the theory of Piaget contrasted with the findings of other studies that differ radically in their conclusions. The essay will show that the importance of imitation as a forerunner to symbolic representation and ultimately abstract thought can be counterbalanced by arguments concerning language acquisition which does not solely depend on imitation for its development and is arguably one of the most important of human tools to develop.

The amount of study this developmental feature has attracted is indicative of its importance in respect of cognitive development. As a precursor to planning, reasoning and decision-making, imitation is a vital first step on the path to internal symbolization and abstract representation. Additionally, imitation between mother and infant allows the infant to learn through...