Abstract
We have thus far conducted a series of experiments to clarify whether there are any differences in the way of seeking visual information from a human face among children different in personality by use of Free View, a non-contact type of eye-movement measuring apparatus. In the present study, we divided the child subjects into three groups according to personality type (dependent, standard and independent types) and three age-groups (group A : 6 years or younger ; group B : 7 to 9 ; group C : 10 to 12). Here is a summary of our findings :1.In the independent-minded group as compared with the other two personality groups, the number of eye-fixation points and saccadic eye-movement distributed in the region containing the features of the face (such as the eyes, the nose and the mouth) showed a marked tendency to increase with advancing age.2.The subjects in either age group A or B did not show any difference in the way of looking at the face which could be attributed to the difference in personality. In group C, however, there was some noticeable difference between the independent-minded subjects and the other two personality groups.3.In group C, the number of times the eyes fell on the background, appearance of the face and fixation durations in that region showed a decreasing tendency more distinctly in the independent minds than in the dependent and standard personality type children.We concluded that these findings suggested that both personality and age are factors affecting the children's way of looking at a human face, and that those children at age 10 and older need consideration just like adults (in the clinical setting).
