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Behavioral Approach–Inhibition in Toddlers: Prediction From Infancy, Positive and Negative Affective Components, and Relations With Behavior Problems
Author(s) -
Putnam Samuel P.,
Stifter Cynthia A.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2005.00840.x
Subject(s) - psychology , ostensive definition , developmental psychology , nonverbal communication , cognitive psychology , focus (optics) , social psychology , linguistics , philosophy , physics , optics
In this study, 126 children were observed at 6 months, 12 months, and 2 years. During infancy, latencies to reach for novel objects were measured. At 2 years, positive and negative affect, and behavioral approach–inhibition to low‐ and high‐intensity situations were coded, and mothers assessed behavior problems. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated a 3‐dimension model of positivity, negativity, and behavioral approach–inhibition. Positivity was related to low‐ and high‐intensity behavioral approach–inhibition, whereas negativity was linked only to low‐intensity behavioral approach–inhibition. Shorter 12‐month latencies to reach were predictive of low negativity, high positivity, and behavioral approach at 2 years. Positivity and negativity were correlated with externalizing and internalizing behaviors, respectively. Finally, cluster analysis identified an exuberant group high in externalizing and an inhibited group high in internalizing.