Influence of Children's Position in the Family on Recognition of Emotional Expression

Abstract

In 1955 Taft showed only and first-born children were more accurate in trait ratings than other children. Perhaps these children are also more capable of recognizing emotions. 92 kindergarten girls, aged 6 to 6½ yr., were used as subjects to test this supposition. The children were quite successful in recognizing emotional expressions in photographs, their greatest difficulty being in discriminating surprise and arrogance from other emotions. Only and first-born children differentiate emotional expressions more successfully than other children. Their parents have more time to give attention and guidance causing the children's ability to differentiate emotions to be more accurate through the influence of the parents' model.