Ontogeny

Title:

The Ontogeny and Significance of Infants' Facial Expressions in the First 9 Months of Life

Authors:

Carroll E. Izard

Christina A. Fantauzzo

Janine M. Castle

O. Maurice Haynes

Maria F. Rayias

Priscilla H. Putnam

Reference:

Izard E.Carroll, Christina A. Fantauzzo, Janine M. Castle, O. Maurice Haynes,Maria F. Rayias, and Priscilla H. Putnam(1995), "The Ontogeny and Significance of Infants' Facial Expressions in the First 9 Months of Life", Developmental Psychology, 6(31):997-1013.

Abstract:

Four studies examined aspects of the differential emotions theory (DET) hypothesis of expressive behavior development. In Study 1, facial-expressive movements of 108 2.5- to 9-month-old infants were video recorded in positive and negative mother-infant interactions (conditions). As expected, Max-specified full-face and partial expressions of interest, joy, sadness, and anger were morphologically stable between the 2 ages. Studies 1 and 2 confirmed predicted differential responding to mother sadness and anger expressions and to composite positive and negative conditions. Discrete negative expressions exceeded negative blends, and the amount of both expression types remained stable across ages. Studies 3 and 4 provided varying degrees of support for the social validity of Maxspecified infant negative affect expressions. Conclusions include revisions and clarifications of DET.