The Japanese Journal of Developmental Psychology
Online ISSN : 2187-9346
Print ISSN : 0915-9029
Young Children's Understanding of the Emotion and Expressions of Picture Book Characters.
Kimiyo FuruyaKumiko TakanoRyoko ItoNaoko Ichikawa
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JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2000 Volume 11 Issue 1 Pages 23-33

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Abstract
Ourreseachshowedhow1-year-oldchildrenunderstoodcharacters'emotionswhenmothersreadthem2picturebookstories:a"crymg"storyandan"angry"story.Thebehaviorof4mother-childpairswasobservedmonthlyoverthecourseofayear,asfollows.First,forthe"crying"story,childrenbegantounderstandthereasonfortheprotagonists'cryingatabouttheageof18months.Whenthestorycharacterwasreunitedwithhismother,thechildrensmiledorexpressedrelief.Secondly,whenlisteningtothe"crying"story,childrenirnitatedthenaturalfacralexpressronofcrying.Thissuggeststhatchildrencaneasilyunderstandsorrybyobservingacryingexpres-sion.Third,forthe"angry"storytherewereindividualdifferencesinchildren'semotionalexpressions.Childrenages19to24monthssometimesweremoreinterestedinthe2characters'interactionsthanintheirangryemo-tions.Indeedthefacialexpressionofangerwasnotwellunderstoodbyparticipants.Finally,fromabouttheageof18months,3ofthechildrenbegantotalkaboutthecharacters,sometimeseveninterpretingtheiremotionsandcriticizingthem.Theseresultssuggestthatinthesecondyearoflifechildrencomewithagetobetterunderstandandimitatestorycharacters'emotions,respondingdifferentiallytotheemotionsofangervs.sadness.
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© 2000 Japan Society of Developmental Psychology
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