Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

The Influence of Cognition on Affect

The Influence of Cognition on Affect

Cognition plays a pivotal role in shaping emotional experiences, as demonstrated by Schachter and Singer’s two-factor theory of emotion. According to this model, emotion arises from a combination of physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation. The body’s physiological response to stimuli is ambiguous and only gains emotional significance through cognitive labeling. For instance, an increased heart rate and adrenaline surge while standing near an attractive person may be interpreted as...

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

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...

Attachment

Attachment

Attachment is vital for infant development, as warm social interactions support growth and well-being. In a classic 1958 study by Harry Harlow, the significance of warmth and comfort in forming attachments was examined. Harlow separated newborn monkeys from their mothers and provided two artificial "mothers": one made of cold wire and the other covered in soft cloth. Despite the wire mother offering food, the infant monkeys preferred the comfort of the cloth mother, demonstrating that physical...

Factors Affecting Perception

Factors Affecting Perception

Perception is influenced by perceptual set, context, motivation, and emotion. Perceptual set, or perceptual expectancy, refers to the tendency to perceive things in a particular way, influenced by previous experiences and expectations. This phenomenon affects the interpretation of stimuli, creating a set of mental tendencies and assumptions that impact sensory perceptions of sound, taste, touch, and sight.
An illustrative example of a perceptual set is the scenario where an airline pilot told...

Facial Feedback Hypothesis

Facial Feedback Hypothesis

Charles Darwin proposed that facial expressions are an evolutionary adaptation for communication. He argued that these expressions are not influenced by culture but are universal across species. For example, a snarling expression with exposed teeth signals a threat in many animals, including humans. Darwin also suggested that displaying an emotion can intensify the feeling. Smiling, for example, could enhance one's sense of happiness. This idea laid the foundation for understanding the role of...

Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood

Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood

Attachment is a long-standing connection or bond with others. While Attachment Theory was conceived in developmental psychology to describe infant-caregiver bonding, it's been extended into adulthood to include romantic relationships.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Understanding early aggression: Empirically derived guidance on type, frequency, and severity in infants and toddlers.

Infant behavior & development·2025

Same author

Measures of executive function may not be indicators of latent constructs.

Journal of neuropsychology·2024

Same author

Provoked and unprovoked aggression in toddlerhood: Evaluating measurement invariance and latent means across gender, age, and time.

Aggressive behavior·2024

Same author

When crying turns to hitting: Examining maternal responses to negative affect.

Infant behavior & development·2024

Same author

Predictors of help-seeking behavior in mothers of preschoolers.

Clinical child psychology and psychiatry·2023

Same author

Normative Trends in Physically Aggressive Behavior: Age-Aggression Curves from 6 to 24 Months.

The Journal of pediatrics·2018

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Analysis of Electrocardiograms and Behavior in Mice from Pregnancy to Lactation Period

Analysis of Electrocardiograms and Behavior in Mice from Pregnancy to Lactation Period

Published on: April 5, 2024

Affective and physiological factors predicting maternal response to infant crying.

Tamara Del Vecchio¹, Abbe Walter, Susan G O'Leary

¹Department of Psychology, St. John's University, Oakdale, NY 11769, USA. delvecct@stjohns.edu

Infant Behavior & Development

|December 17, 2008

Summary

Mothers’ physiological and affective responses to their infant's non-distressed cries predict how fast they respond. Stronger responses may lead to indiscriminate attention to infant behaviors.

More Related Videos

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants

Published on: June 13, 2021

Profiling Maternal Behavior Responses During Whole-Brain Imaging

Profiling Maternal Behavior Responses During Whole-Brain Imaging

Published on: January 24, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Analysis of Electrocardiograms and Behavior in Mice from Pregnancy to Lactation Period

Analysis of Electrocardiograms and Behavior in Mice from Pregnancy to Lactation Period

Published on: April 5, 2024

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants

Published on: June 13, 2021

Profiling Maternal Behavior Responses During Whole-Brain Imaging

Profiling Maternal Behavior Responses During Whole-Brain Imaging

Published on: January 24, 2025

Area of Science:

Developmental Psychology
Maternal Behavior Studies
Infant Communication Research

Background:

Understanding maternal responsiveness is crucial for infant development.
Infant crying is a primary communication signal.
Factors influencing maternal response time to non-distressed cries are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To identify physiological, affective, and perceptual predictors of maternal response speed to infant crying.
To examine the role of maternal reactivity to own infant's cries.

Main Methods:

Study involved 45 primiparous mothers and their 7-9-month-old infants.
Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to assess response speed.
Aversiveness ratings and physiological reactivity were measured.

Main Results:

Maternal aversiveness ratings of own infant's non-distressed cries significantly predicted response speed.
Physiological reactivity to own infant's cries also significantly predicted response speed.
These factors explained a significant portion of the variance in response time.

Conclusions:

Maternal affective and physiological responses are key determinants of response speed to infant crying.
Mothers with heightened responses may respond more readily to attention-seeking behaviors.
Findings inform understanding of maternal sensitivity and infant caregiving.