Experimental Analysis of Preschool Playmate Preferences as a Function of Smiles and Sex

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Bibliographic Details
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: PDF
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
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