http://dx.doi.org/10.15344/2455-3867/2015/101
Abstract
Background: This study investigated emotional coordination and mismatching in spontaneous twin infant-mother interaction.
Methods: Six twin infant-mother dyads were video-recorded during naturalistic interactions from the 2nd to the 6th month.
Results: a) Emotional coordination (matching of the type of facial expression of emotion, completement of the positive valence of facial expression of emotion and attunement in the shifts of emotional intensity direction) along with mismatching of the type of facial expression of emotion takes place in twin infantmother interactions. Emotional matching and mismatching occur at similar rates, b) Infants cause mismatching more than mothers do; and c) Infant age did not affect the developmental trajectories of emotional coordination and mismatching.
Conclusion: This study extends empirically the theory of innate intersubjectivity to twin infant-mother interaction and provided evidence that mothers and twin infants adjust the timing, form and energy of their emotions to obtain inter-subjective coordination and inter-motive adjustments.