The Meaning of Infant Emotional Expressions: Regularities in Caregiving Responses in Normal and Down's Syndrome Infants

Abstract

In two studies, photographs of facial expressions of normal and Down's syndrome infants were viewed by mothers who recognized discrete emotions and reported regularities in caregiving associated with these emotions. Stimulating interactions were reported more frequently for high intensity expressions than for low intensity expressions. While these regularities held for both groups of infants, high intensity expressions were less frequent in the Down's group. The biological mothers of Down's infants seemingly compensated by reporting more stimulating interventions in response to their infants' low intensity expressions. Mothers who were unfamiliar with both groups of infants did not evidence this compensatory adjustment.

Prelinguistic communication and Down syndrome

“…These interactional difficulties, which tend to persist in older children with Down syndrome (Berger & Cunningham, 1983) have been known to be attributed to a more directional maternal style (Sorce & Emde, 1982). "...... high levels of maternal stimulation and poorer reciprocity are among the most consistently noted features" of interactions between mothers and their children with Down syndrome (Berger, 1990 p.116).…”

The expression and assessment of emotions and internal states in individuals with severe or profound intellectual disabilities

“…This will allow an overview of the current literature base whilst highlighting some of the methodological difficulties that may have limited progress within this area. typically developing infants at a very early age (Steiner et al, 2001) and can be reliably interpreted by both trained and untrained adults who are familiar or unfamiliar with the infant (Hiatt et al, 1979;Sorce & Emde, 1982). sample of typically developing infants, but was delayed by a number of months dependent upon degree of intellectual disability.…”

Comportamiento expresivo que antecede a la sonrisa social: Comparación entre lactantes normales y afectados por el síndrome de Down

“…Con posterioridad, otros autores han coincidido en señalar la idea de que el desarrollo emocional de estos niños es equivalente, aunque más lento, al de los niños normales (véase, por ejemplo, Emde y Brown, 1978; Sorce y Emde, 1982;Rothbart y Hanson, 1983;Berger y Cunnigham, 1986). En este mismo sentido, Loeches (1988) ha observado recientemente que, bajo condiciones estimulares equiparables, los lactantes con trisomía 21 muestran las mismas expresiones faciales que los niños normales.…”