Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 29, 2026

Infant Auditory Processing and Event-related Brain Oscillations
06:34

Infant Auditory Processing and Event-related Brain Oscillations

Published on: July 1, 2015

A study of the "inversion of intensity" between newborn and preschool-age behavior

R K Yang, C F Halverson

    Child Development
    |June 11, 1976
    PubMed

    Insights

    Intense newborn behavior may predict lower levels of negative social behaviors in preschool. This study examined intensity behaviors in children from infancy through preschool years.

    Area of Science:

    • Child Psychology
    • Developmental Psychology
    • Behavioral Science

    Background:

    • Previous research suggested an "inversion" of intensity behaviors between infancy and preschool.
    • This interpretation posits a negative relationship between early and later intensity.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To test the "inversion of intensity" hypothesis in child behavior.
    • To examine the longitudinal relationship between newborn and preschool intensity behaviors.

    Main Methods:

    • 106 typically developing children were assessed at neonatal and preschool stages.
    • Two parts of data analysis: Part I replicated previous measures, Part II used factor analysis.
    • Intensity-related measures were analyzed across both developmental periods.

    Main Results:

    • Part I showed weak, non-significant correlations supporting the inversion hypothesis.
    • Part II revealed significant positive correlations between newborn and preschool intensity.
    • Intense newborn behavior was associated with lower levels of socially negative preschool behaviors.

    Conclusions:

    • The "inversion of intensity" hypothesis was not supported by this study.
    • Findings suggest a continuity in behavioral intensity from newborn to preschool.
    • Newborn intensity may be a marker for later social behavior regulation.

    More Related Videos

    Behavioral Assessment of Hearing in 2 to 4 Year-old Children: A Two-interval, Observer-based Procedure Using Conditioned Play-based Responses14:05

    Behavioral Assessment of Hearing in 2 to 4 Year-old Children: A Two-interval, Observer-based Procedure Using Conditioned Play-based Responses

    Published on: January 23, 2017

    Exploring Infant Sensitivity to Visual Language using Eye Tracking and the Preferential Looking Paradigm06:07

    Exploring Infant Sensitivity to Visual Language using Eye Tracking and the Preferential Looking Paradigm

    Published on: May 15, 2019

    Related Concept Videos

    Behaviorism01:28

    Behaviorism

    The field of behaviorism was pioneered by figures such as Ivan Pavlov, John B. Watson, and B.F. Skinner fundamentally shifted the focus of psychology to the observable and controllable aspects of human and animal behavior. This shift marked a critical evolution in the discipline, emphasizing scientific rigor and experimental methodology.
    The core premise of behaviorism is its focus on observable behavior rather than internal thoughts or feelings. This approach argues that true scientific...
    Introduction to Developmental Psychology01:27

    Introduction to Developmental Psychology

    Developmental psychology explores the changes and continuities in human abilities throughout life, encompassing physical, cognitive, linguistic, and social dimensions. Human development is not restricted to growth, but includes aspects of decline, particularly in physical abilities as individuals age. Developmental psychologists seek to understand how people change as they age and how their mental and social skills evolve.Developmental MilestonesA key concept in developmental psychology is...
    Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development01:14

    Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development

    The sensorimotor stage, the initial phase of Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, spans the first two years of a child's life. During this period, infants actively engage with their surroundings, building cognitive awareness through direct interaction with the world. This interaction is primarily based on sensory perception and motor actions, allowing infants to gradually understand basic physical properties and predict how objects interact within their environment.
    Exploration...
    The Nativist Approach01:21

    The Nativist Approach

    The nativist approach to infant cognitive development proposes that infants are born with inherent knowledge structures that allow them to interpret the world almost immediately. This perspective contrasts with earlier developmental theories, such as those proposed by Jean Piaget, which emphasized a more gradual acquisition of cognitive abilities through interaction with the environment. One key concept in this approach is object permanence — the understanding that objects continue to exist...
    Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

    Socioemotional Development during Infancy

    Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
    Primary Temperament Types
    Stella Chess...