The regulation of infant behavior by maternal facial expression

In the past, Infants' comprehension of adult facial expressions has been assessed through discrimination and categorization techniques. However, a more meaningful level of comprehension involves infants' ability to utilize the information communicated by facial expressions to regulate their instrumental behavior. This study explored the age at which the capacity for such utilization develops. Seventy-two infants, half 12 months and half 18 months, were each presented with three unusual toys designed to elicit uncertainty in the infants. When they visually referenced their mothers' faces, mothers posed smiling, fearful, or neutral expressions. At both ages, the infants moved closest to the mother when she posed fear, moved farthest from her when she posed joy, and maintained an intermediate distance when she appeared neutral. For all variables, the effect was most clear on the third trial. The results demonstrated that by 12 months of age infants seek out facial expression information and use it to regulate their own behavior.

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