Eye contact in the first months of life and its developmental consequences

Abstract

Face-to-face eye contact in parent-infant interaction is described as a salient developmental task for two- to four-month-old babies. Interindividual differences in the quantity of eye contact are shown to be related to quality of parenting and parental attitude as assessed on the dimensions of accepting the child and responding to the child's needs, and to parental authenticity as a person system precursor which contributes directly to interactional quality. Gaze aversion in this early period of life seems to be a major predictor of later problem behavior, as a six-year follow-up study with 20 children and their parents suggests. © 1987, Elsevier Science & Technology. All rights reserved.