Experimental Analysis of Preschool Playmate Preferences as a Function of Smiles and Sex
Saved in:
| Title: | Experimental Analysis of Preschool Playmate Preferences as a Function of Smiles and Sex |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Schultz, David, Ambike, Archana, Buckingham-Howes, Stacy |
| Source: | Infant and Child Development. Sep 2008 17(5):503-507. |
| Availability: | Wiley-Blackwell. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774. Tel: 800-825-7550; Tel: 201-748-6645; Fax: 201-748-6021; e-mail: subinfo@wiley.com; Web site: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/browse/?type=JOURNAL |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Physical Description: | |
| Page Count: | 5 |
| Publication Date: | 2008 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Preschool Education |
| Descriptors: | Preschool Children, Gender Differences, Social Development, Interpersonal Competence, Nonverbal Communication, Prediction, Low Income, Peer Relationship, Teacher Attitudes |
| DOI: | 10.1002/icd.566 |
| ISSN: | 1522-7227 |
| Abstract: | Differential emotions theory (DET) ("The face of emotion." Appleton-Century-Crofts: East Norwalk, CT, 1971) posits that the smile functions in part to communicate and/or reflect social affiliation and plays an important role in children's social development. While children's positive emotion expressions have received attention from peer relations researchers in observational studies and within correlational designs, there is almost no experimental evidence for the impact of the smile. Building on existing studies, the present study examined DET predictions within an experimental design. More specifically, we examined the impact smiles have on lower-income preschool children's nominations for preferred playmates. Both boys and girls tended to nominate unfamiliar playmates who smiled. Additionally, some evidence suggested that preference for smiling playmates seemed more critical to girls' than boys' social functioning. Unlike among boys, teachers rated girls who exhibited a greater preference for smiling playmates as higher in social competence. (Contains 1 table.) |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Number of References: | 13 |
| Entry Date: | 2011 |
| Accession Number: | EJ908350 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Differential emotions theory (DET) ("The face of emotion." Appleton-Century-Crofts: East Norwalk, CT, 1971) posits that the smile functions in part to communicate and/or reflect social affiliation and plays an important role in children's social development. While children's positive emotion expressions have received attention from peer relations researchers in observational studies and within correlational designs, there is almost no experimental evidence for the impact of the smile. Building on existing studies, the present study examined DET predictions within an experimental design. More specifically, we examined the impact smiles have on lower-income preschool children's nominations for preferred playmates. Both boys and girls tended to nominate unfamiliar playmates who smiled. Additionally, some evidence suggested that preference for smiling playmates seemed more critical to girls' than boys' social functioning. Unlike among boys, teachers rated girls who exhibited a greater preference for smiling playmates as higher in social competence. (Contains 1 table.) |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1522-7227 |
| DOI: | 10.1002/icd.566 |
