Infants' response to a jealousy-inducement situation

Date

2001-05

Journal Title

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Volume Title

Publisher

Texas Tech University

Abstract

This thesis discusses the literature on infants in face-to-face, still-face, and jealousy inducement conditions. Literature on the still-face situation is presented as a model for baseline reaction to maternal emotional unavailability. Empirical research is described to show that infants when placed in a still-face or jealous) inducement condition express more negative affect and protest behaviors compared to a face-to-face interaction. Past studies are used in this thesis to illustrate infants tendencies to become more disturbed when the mother is physically available, but emotionally unavailable.

This thesis attempts to show that infants behavior toward the mother and facial expressions in the jealousy inducement condition might be similar to their responses in the still-face condition, but will differ from their responses to a face-to-face interaction. This thesis examines infant behaviors toward the mother (approach, avoidance, and gaze toward mother) and infant facial expressions (interest, joy, sadness, sadness/anger blends, anger, fear, pain, contempt, and disgust).

Differences were found for infants' behavior toward the mother and facial expressions in the face-to-face, still-face, and jealousy inducement conditions. .All variables of infant behavior toward the mother showed significant differences between the conditions. While only four variables of infant facial expressions (interest. Joy, sadness, sadness/anger blends) showed significant differences between the conditions. Thus, suggesting that there might be conditions other than the still-face that are disturbing to the infant

Description

Keywords

Emotions in infants, Jealousy in children, Facial expression, Mother and infant

Citation