Video Activity, Chapter 6
Still Face Experiment
Dr. Edward Tronick from the University of Massachusetts–Boston discusses his pioneering
research using the "still face paradigm" discussed in the chapter. He shows a mother and infant
during the procedure and discusses what this work taught us about the importance of caregiver
responsiveness to infants' cues.
Watch 2:49-minute clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apzXGEbZht0
Then answer these discussion questions:
1. Why does the baby point, screech, and smile after her mother's face turns still?
2. How does the baby cope with the stress of an unresponsive caregiver?
3. What are "the good, the bad, and the ugly" stemming from Dr. Tronick's findings?
Developmental Psychology, Frank Keil
© 2014 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.