The development of the still-face effect: mothers do matter.
The Face-to-Face Still-Face paradigm (FFSF) has been used to investigate how infants react to stressful events. However, there is little developmental data on the FFSF effect, and whether it connects to a specific relationship (e.g., to a mother versus a stranger). This prospective longitudinal study aims to evaluate developmental changes in infant reaction to the FFSF presented by the mother or a stranger at 2, 4, 6, and 8 months of age (n=39). Results show that infant negativity was expressed less in relation to a stranger, the identity effect. Results further suggest that from 6 to 8 months of age, stranger induced protest flattens out; whereas mother induced protest decreases. The results are discussed in relation to different theories regarding infant responsiveness.
Melinder
Annika
A
The Cognitive Developmental Research Unit (EKUP), Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. a.m.d.melinder@psykologi.uio.no
Forbes
Danielle
D
Tronick
Ed
E
Fikke
Linn
L
Gredebäck
Gustaf
G
D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002657:Child Development; D003142:Communication; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D012919:Social Behavior; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology*