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

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

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