Organization of Early Skilled Action

TLDR

Early skilled action begins with an aroused intention specifying an end state and minimal means, leading to initially clumsy, preadapted sequences that are refined by feedback into more efficient, higher‑order actions. The study examines how play and modeling influence the organization of task‑contributing constituents for task completion.

Abstract

BRUNER, JEROME S. Organization of Early Skilled Action. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1973, 44, 1-11. Early skill is dependent upon the initial arousal of an intention, specifying an end state, and containing minimal directions concerning means. Activated intention triggers constituent acts that are clumsily organized to achieve a desired end state, often with initial organization showing a preadapted pattern. Feedback shapes initially awkward patterns so that less attentional capacity is required. Further task analysis is made possible, and more evolved directed action is constructed of previously constructed sequences now organized into higherorder arts. The role of play and modeling in the organization of constituents for task completion is explored.