Publication Date

1985

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Gustafson, Gwen E.

Degree Name

M.A. (Master of Arts)

Legacy Department

Department of Psychology

LCSH

Infants--Care; Crying

Abstract

This study assessed the effects of cry duration and controllability on adults' behaviors directed toward and perceptions of an infant. Forty-eight nonparent adult females "babysat" with a life-like infant manikin in a laboratory nursery. During a 20-minute experimental session, some heard 2 minutes of crying and others, 13 minutes. They could either temporarily stop the cries by performing specific caregiving behaviors, or they could not stop the cries under any circumstances. Subjects' caregiving behaviors were coded from videotapes. Their perceptions of the infant were assessed by a modified version of the Infant Characteristics Questionnaire and additional, exploratory questions. Analyses of the behavioral measures indicated that subjects responded to persistent crying with fewer caregiving behaviors when they could not control the cries; that they responded more quickly when exposed to a longer duration of crying; and, in some cases, that their responses were cry specific. Responses to the two sets of questions indicated that subjects perceived the infant who cried longer as more aversive.

Comments

Bibliography: pages [69]-74.

Extent

vii, 105 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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