FACIAL EXPRESSIONS OF EMOTION AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGY IN ADOLESCENT BOYS

On the basis of the widespread belief that emotions underpin psycholog ical adjustment, the authors tested 3 predicted relations between exte rnalizing problems and anger, internalizing problems and fear and sadn ess, and the absence of externalizing problems and social-moral emotio n (embarrassment). Seventy adolescent boys were classified into 1 of 4 comparison groups on the basis ofteacher reports using a behavior pro blem checklist: internalizers, externalizers, mixed (both internalizer s and externalizers), and nondisordered boys. The authors coded the fa cial expressions of emotion shown by the boys during a structured soci al interaction. Results supported the 3 hypotheses: (a) Externalizing adolescents showed increased facial expressions of anger, (b) on 1 mea sure internalizing adolescents showed increased facial expressions of fear, and (c) the absence of externalizing problems (or nondisordered classification) was related to increased displays of embarrassment. Di scussion focused on the relations of these findings to hypotheses conc erning the role of impulse control in antisocial behavior.