O complexo de animação como indicador do desenvolvimento infantil

Abstract

The present research aims to investigate the existing theoretical knowledge about the concept of 'complex of animation' and its contributions, as an indicator of infant development, for interventions in psychology and neuropsychology. The concept of 'animation complex' was first introduced by Russian reflexology, and later incorporated by cultural-historical psychology within an approach to the psychological development of infants. From this perspective, it indicates that such transition from the 'post-natal' crisis period to a more stable 'first year' period and shows the emergence of a most evolved form of the main activity of this phase, namely, direct emotional communication. The expression of animation complex occurs between two and three months when, in response to interaction with another, the infant displays a set of behaviors that indicate his interest in communicative activity: animated body movements, smiles, sounds, and concentration of attention on the adult. Thus, the "animation complex" is the main indicator of infant development and, therefore, it is important to understand such development of this complex and all its components, because this information can support evaluation and intervention processes in different developmental conditions. To achieve this goal, three theoretical studies with distinct objectives were outlined. The first one traces the genesis of the 'concept of complex animation' and its epistemic turn with the insertion in cultural-historical psychology. The second study compiles how the 'concept of animus complex' has been understood and used in the context of cultural-historical psychology and neuropsychology. Finally, the third study summarizes such understanding about the animation complex from a review of the most recent publications about the development process of the components of the animation complex.