Hay D F, Nash A, Pedersen J
Child Dev. 1981 Sep;52(3):1071-5.
Observations of 12 pairs of 6-month-old infants interacting in a laboratory playroom in the presence of both mothers indicated that the estimated frequency, duration, and temporal distribution of one infant's distressed vocalizations were statistically independent of those of the peer. The absence of toys in the environment was a reliable predictor of the extent of an infant's distress, whereas the peer's estimated frequency and duration of distress and the infant's own gender and locomotor status were not. Infants watched their distressed peers during a majority of distress episodes and occasionally directed other behaviors to them but only rarely became distressed themselves. However, there were some indications in the pattern of distress in the trial when toys were absent that suggest one infant's distress had cumulative effects on the peer. Such cumulative effects would seem to be tempered by environmental conditions and the reactions of caregivers.
在实验室游戏室中，对12对6个月大的婴儿在母亲在场的情况下进行互动的观察表明，一名婴儿痛苦发声的估计频率、持续时间和时间分布在统计学上与同伴的这些指标无关。环境中没有玩具是婴儿痛苦程度的可靠预测指标，而同伴痛苦的估计频率和持续时间以及婴儿自身的性别和运动状态则不是。在大多数痛苦发作期间，婴儿会看着痛苦的同伴，偶尔会对他们做出其他行为，但自己很少会变得痛苦。然而，在没有玩具的试验中，痛苦模式有一些迹象表明，一名婴儿的痛苦会对同伴产生累积影响。这种累积影响似乎会受到环境条件和照顾者反应的缓和。
