Changes in mothers' touch and hand gestures influence infant behavior during face-to-face interchanges

Author(s): Arnold, S. L.

Journal/Book: Infant Behav Develop. 1998; 21: 100 Prospect St, PO Box 811, Stamford, CT 06904-0811. Ablex Publ Corp. 451-468.

Abstract: Sixty mothers and their 5.5-month-olds participated in 4 periods of face-to-race interaction, designed to examine whether changes in maternal touch and hand gestures influence infant behavior. Following a Normal period, infants in the experimental group received three still-face with touch periods during which mothers were provided with specific instructions. Their responses were compared with those of a control group. Differences in infant gaze and affect were revealed. Infants in the experimental group gazed more at their mothers' races and less at their hands during the Attention-to-Face period, and smiled more during the Playful Interaction period relative to infants in the control group. Moreover, associations between infant smiling and vocalizing with gaze at mothers' faces and hands were found, and co-occurrences varied as a function of period. Results from this study indicate that: ii) infants are sensitive to changes in maternal touch and hand gestures; (2) when instructed, mothers appear successful in eliciting specific behaviors from their infants using only non-verbal (touch and gesture) channels of communication; (3) there are associations between infant expressive behaviors and gaze at mothers' races and hands during these periods.

Note: Article Stack DM, Concordia Univ, Dept Psychol, 7141 Sherbrooke St W PY-170, Montreal, PQ H4B 1R6, CANADA

Keyword(s): infancy gesture; touch; face-to-face interactions; socio-emotional development; manipulations of maternal behavior; TACTILE STIMULATION; HEARING MOTHERS; MANIPULATIONS; COMMUNICATION; RELIABILITY; ATTENTION

Zurück | Weiter