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Decoding and encoding facial expressions in preschool-age children

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Abstract

Preschool-age children drew, decoded, and encoded facial expressions depicting five different emotions. Each child was rated by two teachers on measures of school adjustment. Facial expressions encoded by the children were decoded by college undergraduates and the children's parents. Results were as follows: (1) accuracy of drawing, decoding and encoding each of the five emotions was consistent across the three tasks; (2) decoding ability was correlated with drawing ability among female subjects, but neither of these abilities was correlated with encoding ability; (3) decoding ability increased with age, while encoding ability increased with age among females and slightly decreased among males; (4) parents decoded facial expressions of their own children better than facial expressions of other children, and female parents were better decoders than male parents; (5) children's adjustment to school was related to their encoding and decoding skills and to their mothers' decoding skills; (6) children with better decoding skills were rated as being better adjusted by their parents.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Rochester, 14627, Rochester, NY

    Miron Zuckerman (member) & Sylvia J. Przewuzman (member)

Authors
  1. Miron Zuckerman
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  2. Sylvia J. Przewuzman
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Additional information

The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the Greater Rochester Jewish Community Center, Early Childhood Department, and the parents of the participating children in the completion of this study. Special thanks to Sandra Walter, Director of the Early Childhood Department, for her cooperation and support during all stages of the project.

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Zuckerman, M., Przewuzman, S.J. Decoding and encoding facial expressions in preschool-age children. J Nonverbal Behav 3, 147–163 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01142589

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