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Gender and emotion in infancy: Direct observations and parental perceptions
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GENDER AND EMOTION IN INFANCY: DIRECT OBSERVATIONS AND PARENTAL PERCEPTIONS Rosemarie DiBiase, Courtney Vareschi, and Jennifer Brunell Department of Psychology, Suffolk University, Boston, MA
02114
In general, few empirical studies have found gender differences in infants' behaviors. However, a number of studies have reported that adults falsely attribute gender specific qualities to infants. The area of emotional expression is particularly interesting because while few studies have reported gender differences in infancy, there is empirical evidence that gender differences exist in preschool aged children and adults. Socialization has been suggested as an explanation for the development of these differences. In this study gender differences were examined longitudinally over the second year of life to determine whether there is any change in them during this time. Direct observations of the primary emotions were compared with parental reports of mood to determine how parental perception is related to actual behaviors. Forty infants were examined in the laboratory at 13 and 22 months of age. Four situations were used to elicit a variety of emotional expressions that were videotaped and coded using the AFFEX system. The AFFEX expressions of enjoyment/joy, disgust/revulsion, and interest, and a combination of anger/rage and sadness/dejection (negative emotion) were measured. In addition, mothers filled out temperament questionnaires (ITQ-R and TTS) at both ages. Included on these is the temperament dimension of mood. The higher the rating on this dimension, the more negative the mood. Independent t-tests were used to examine gender differences at each age. As expected, results showed that there were no gender differences on any of the directly observed primary emotions at either age. However, there was a trend for girls to show more joy/enjoyment at 22 months, pc.13. There were significant differences for the maternal rating of mood. At 13 months boys (M=3.16) were rated as significantly more negative than girls (M=2.73), pc.02. At 22 months there was a similar trend with boys (M=2.89) rated as more negative in mood than girls (M=2.32), pc.06. These results are consistent with gender research in other areas of infancy and suggest that gender differences in emotional expression are primarily in the eye of the beholder. However, the fact that mothers rate boys as more negative than girls may translate into different socialization practices. Greater expectations of negative behavior in boys as opposed to girls may foster different patterns of emotional expression. Our finding of a trend toward more expression of positive emotion in older female, compared to male, infants is suggestive but clearly needs to be examined more thoroughly.
GENDER AND EMOTION IN INFANCY: DIRECT OBSERVATIONS AND PARENTAL PERCEPTIONS Rosemarie DiBiase, Courtney Vareschi, and Jennifer Brunell Department of Psychology, Suffolk University, Boston, MA
02114
In general, few empirical studies have found gender differences in infants' behaviors. However, a number of studies have reported that adults falsely attribute gender specific qualities to infants. The area of emotional expression is particularly interesting because while few studies have reported gender differences in infancy, there is empirical evidence that gender differences exist in preschool aged children and adults. Socialization has been suggested as an explanation for the development of these differences. In this study gender differences were examined longitudinally over the second year of life to determine whether there is any change in them during this time. Direct observations of the primary emotions were compared with parental reports of mood to determine how parental perception is related to actual behaviors. Forty infants were examined in the laboratory at 13 and 22 months of age. Four situations were used to elicit a variety of emotional expressions that were videotaped and coded using the AFFEX system. The AFFEX expressions of enjoyment/joy, disgust/revulsion, and interest, and a combination of anger/rage and sadness/dejection (negative emotion) were measured. In addition, mothers filled out temperament questionnaires (ITQ-R and TTS) at both ages. Included on these is the temperament dimension of mood. The higher the rating on this dimension, the more negative the mood. Independent t-tests were used to examine gender differences at each age. As expected, results showed that there were no gender differences on any of the directly observed primary emotions at either age. However, there was a trend for girls to show more joy/enjoyment at 22 months, pc.13. There were significant differences for the maternal rating of mood. At 13 months boys (M=3.16) were rated as significantly more negative than girls (M=2.73), pc.02. At 22 months there was a similar trend with boys (M=2.89) rated as more negative in mood than girls (M=2.32), pc.06. These results are consistent with gender research in other areas of infancy and suggest that gender differences in emotional expression are primarily in the eye of the beholder. However, the fact that mothers rate boys as more negative than girls may translate into different socialization practices. Greater expectations of negative behavior in boys as opposed to girls may foster different patterns of emotional expression. Our finding of a trend toward more expression of positive emotion in older female, compared to male, infants is suggestive but clearly needs to be examined more thoroughly.