Adult perception of infant appearance: a review

Recent research is reviewed which deals with adult perception of variations in specific features of infant appearance. While there is relative consensus as to the general features which compose the "babyishness" ideal type, there is less work examining the representative variation of these specific features as a function of gestational age or infant population. An important distinction is made between behavioral expressivity and morphological appearance. Research on infant behavioral assessment and social expressiveness is assessed with regard to how well different studies account for the distinct influence of behavioral expressivity and morphological appearance. Several ways of accounting for the functional significance of infant appearance are presented and speculation is given as to the effect of infant appearance on the developing adult-infant relationship.