Sequential Analysis of Mastery Behavior in 6- and 12-Month-Old Infants
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-1987
Journal / Book Title
Developmental Psychology
Abstract
We examined the pattern and direction of behaviors that reflect infants' underlying mastery motivation. The sequences of mastery behavior were analyzed in a sample of 67 infants when they were 6 and 12 months old. We computed (a) the frequencies of each of six categories of mastery behavior, transitional probabilities, and z scores for each possible behavior change between the categories and (b) the transitions from a mastery behavior to an instance of positive affect. The analyses revealed significant age changes in the frequency of each category; however, the significant transitional probabilities among the six categories displayed a similar organization at both ages. The transitions from a mastery behavior to an instance of positive affect suggest that it is persistent, goal-directed behaviors that contribute to an infant's feeling of efficacy.
DOI
10.1037/0012-1649.23.2.199
MSU Digital Commons Citation
MacTurk, Robert H.; McCarthy, Mary E.; Vietze, Peter; and Yarrow, Leon J., "Sequential Analysis of Mastery Behavior in 6- and 12-Month-Old Infants" (1987). Department of Psychology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works. 440.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/psychology-facpubs/440
Published Citation
MacTurk, R. H., McCarthy, M. E., Vietze, P. M., & Yarrow, L. J. (1987). Sequential analysis of mastery behavior in 6- and 12-month-old infants. Developmental Psychology, 23(2), 199–203. https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.23.2.199