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Development of approach and inhibition in the first year: parallel findings from motor behavior, temperament ratings and directional cardiac response
Author(s) -
Putnam Samuel P.,
Stifter Cynthia A.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
developmental science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.801
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1467-7687
pISSN - 1363-755X
DOI - 10.1111/1467-7687.00239
Subject(s) - psychology , temperament , emotionality , developmental psychology , intensity (physics) , response inhibition , audiology , consistency (knowledge bases) , cognition , personality , neuroscience , social psychology , medicine , physics , geometry , mathematics , quantum mechanics
A group of 139 infants was observed at 6 and 12 months. Approach and inhibition were measured via latencies to touch low– and high–intensity objects, directional cardiac response to low– and high–intensity sounds and maternal ratings of positive and fearful emotionality. Inhibition showed considerable increases in all three domains from 6 to 12 months. Also reflecting increases in inhibitory processes, correlations between individual infants’ responses to low– and high–intensity sounds were significantly smaller at 12 than at 6 months. Limited cross–domain validity was obtained linking large cardiac decelerations, low latencies to reach for toys and high ratings of positive emotionality. These findings are consistent with previous reports documenting relatively greater gains in inhibition than approach during the second half of the first year. Modest cross–domain consistency indicates separate mechanisms may moderate approach and inhibition in the three different realms.