In this chapter, we present a case analysis of the development of frames and frame transitions for another one of the four representative dyads, Lewis and his mother. Similar to the organization utilized in previous qualitative chapters, we present the raw data developmental trajectories for each of the four frames, the raw data transition frequencies between the frames as a function of age, and a qualitative analysis of the relational history. In the latter, we describe the change processes at two levels, ordinary variability (referred to as level 1 change in Chapter 3) and innovations (referred to as level 2 change in Chapter 3), followed by a brief developmental account of these changes that describes any evidence for a developmental re-organization (level 3 change).

Developmental trajectories and transition frequencies

As shown in Figure 7.2 and Table 10.1, for this dyad the guided object frame persisted as the historically predominant frame until session 8, after which social, social/object mixed, and not-guided object frames became more salient. Social and social/object mixed frames were salient features of their communication throughout the period of observation. Unlike the other two dyads reviewed thus far, not-guided object frames for Lewis and his mother never became predominant on its own. Rather, the not-guided object and the social/object mixed frames seemed to share equal status as the newly emerging frames. The significant negative correlation (Table 7.2) between the not-guided object frame and the social/object mixed frame lends further support to this conclusion.