Infant Predictors of Inhibited and Uninhibited Profiles

Abstract

Previous research on subjects showing the two temperamental profiles called inhibited and uninhibited to unfamiliar events suggests that the two groups differ in threshold of reactivity to novelty. Hence, variation among infants in behavioral reactivity to unfamiliar events might predict later display of the two profiles. In a longitudinal study of 94 four-month-old infants, those who displayed the combination of high motor activity and frequent crying to stimulation were more fearful to unfamiliar events at nine and 14 months than infants who displayed both low motor activity and infrequent crying. This result implies that the processes that mediate early reactivity to stimulation may also influence a later preparedness to avoid or to approach unfamiliarity.