Ca. Stifter et Jm. Braungart, THE REGULATION OF NEGATIVE REACTIVITY IN INFANCY - FUNCTION AND DEVELOPMENT, Developmental psychology, 31(3), 1995, pp. 448-455
This study examined the function and effectiveness of certain behavior
s in regulating negative arousal in 5- and 10-month-old infants. Infan
ts participated in an arm restraint procedure at 5 months (N = 87) and
a toy removal task at 10 months (N = 82). Negative reactivity and reg
ulatory behaviors-avoidance, orienting, self-comforting, and communica
tive behaviors (10-month only)-were coded and sectioned into 10-s epoc
hs. Results showed that self-comforting behaviors were preferred at bo
th 5 and 10 months of age. A comparison of changes in negative reactiv
ity across every 2 consecutive 10-s epochs (decreasers vs. increasers
vs. no change) revealed self-comforting behaviors to be exhibited most
often during periods of decreasing negative arousal. Orienting behavi
ors also appeared to serve a regulatory function but in a more limited
way. Finally, under these circumstances, avoidance and communicative
behaviors were exhibited most often during increasing distress.