The DOI matches its Crossref record; 91 of the 91 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
The still-face: A history of a shared experimental paradigm
Abstract
When faced by a suddenly unresponsive social partner, young infants typically react by sobering and gazing away. This still‐face reaction has intrigued researchers for several decades. In this article, we present a history of the still‐face paradigm in which we locate early observations of the still‐face effect, describe the formalization of a procedure that reliably produces it, and discuss how this procedure has been used to investigate a broad range of questions about early social and emotional development. In addition, we reflect on the heuristic value of shared experimental paradigms.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“Father and infant were observed in the well-validated face-to-face still-face paradigm (FTFSF) (43)”
From Oxytocin administration to parent enhances infant physiological and behavioral readiness for social engagement (2012) · cites this paper as [43]
In the citing paper
“Along with the well-documented behavioral still-face effect (Adamson & Frick, 2003) is evidence for a reliable physiological still-face effect.”
From Mother-infant vagal regulation in the face-to-face still-face paradigm is moderated by maternal sensitivity (2009) · cites this paper as Adamson & Frick, 2003
Citations
Cites
The Ecological Approach to Visual Perception
Bornstein, M. H., & Gibson, J. J. (1980) · The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism · doi:10.2307/429816 · Cited by 22,935
(1969) · Cited by 18,340
(1978) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 12,570
The Ecological Approach to Visual Perception: Classic Edition
Gibson, J. J. (2014) · doi:10.4324/9781315740218 · Cited by 12,132
The Infant's Response to Entrapment between Contradictory Messages in Face-to-Face Interaction
Tronick, E., Als, H., Adamson, L., Wise, S., & Brazelton, T. B. (1978) · Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/s0002-7138(09)62273-1 · Cited by 1,880
Self-citationMonographs of the Society for Research in Child Development
Ash, M. J., & Torres, J. L. (2008) · Encyclopedia of Special Education · doi:10.1002/9780470373699.speced1386 · Cited by 1,842
Danziger, K. (1990) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511524059 · Cited by 1,773
The effect of the infant on its caregiver
Lewis, M., & Rosenblum, L. A. (1974) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 1,428
Field, T. M., & Fox, N. A. (1985) · Cited by 1,181
Harlow, H. F., & Zimmermann, R. R. (1959) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.130.3373.421 · Cited by 951
Research works printed but not linked: 23
- Field T., 1986, Maternal unavailability effects on very young infants in homecare vs. daycare, Infant Mental Health Journal, 7, 274
- Rochat P., 1999, Early social cognition: Understanding others in the first months of life, 3
- Stoller S., 1982, Emotion and early interactions, 57
- Tronick E. Z., 1982, Emotion and interaction: Normal and high‐risk infants, 83
- Carpenter G. C., 1974, Mother's face and the newborn, New Scientist, 21, 742
- Chance M. R. A., 1962, An interpretation of some agonistic postures: The role of “cut‐off” acts and postures, Symposium of the Zoological Society of London, 8, 71
- Cohn J. F., 1982, Social interchange in infancy: Affect, cognition, and communication, 59
- Frick J. E.(Chair). (2002 April).The still‐face procedure: Historical perspectives current trends and future directions.Poster symposium presented at the International Conference on Infant Studies Toronto Ontario Canada.
- Frick J. E. &Abelkop B. S.(2000 July).Infant attention in the still‐face procedure: Physiological responses and individual differences.Poster presented at the International Conference on Infant Studies Brighton England.
- Harlow H. F., 1959, Affectional responses in infant monkeys, Science, 8, 421
- Kaila E., 1932, Die Reaction des Sauglings auf das menschiliche Gesicht [The reaction of infants to the human face], Annales Universitatis Aboensis, 17, 1
- Kaye K., 1979, Before speech: The beginning of interpersonal communication, 191
- Markov Y. Adamson L. B. &Bakeman R.(2000 July).Infants' communicative strategies during social referencing violations.Poster presented at the International Conference on Infant Studies Brighton England.
- Muir D., 1999, Early social cognition: Understanding others in the first months of life, 155
- Nadel J., 1999, Early social cognition: Understanding others in the first months of life, 189
- Papousek H., 1997, Studies in mother—infant interaction, 63
- Schneider B., 2000, Ethical problems posed by several (too) classical research paradigms in psychology and in developmental psychopathology, Psychiatrie de l'enfant, 43, 5
- Stechler G., 1967, Exceptional infant: Vol. 1. The normal infant, 165
- Stern D. N., 1974, The effect of the infant on its caregiver, 187
- Trevarthen C., 1977, Studies in mother—infant interaction, 227
- Tronick E., 1980, The exceptional infant, 144
- Tronick E., 1979, Before speech: The beginning of interpersonal communication, 349
- Tronick E. Z., 1985, Affect development in infancy, 11
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 301–400 of 445
Motor Experience and Action Understanding
Bertenthal, B. I. (2020) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781003018599-8 · Cited by 3
Wriedt, S. C., Müller, M., Reck, C., Nonnenmacher, N., Zietlow, A., & Woll-Weber, C. F. J. (2024) · Infant Behavior and Development · doi:10.1016/j.infbeh.2024.101942 · Cited by 3
Chua, Y. W., Sánchez, L. J., Ledsham, V., O’Carroll, S., Cox, R. F. A., Andonović, I., Tachtatzis, C., Boardman, J. P., Fletcher‐Watson, S., Rowe, P. J., et al. (2025) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-024-83194-w · Cited by 3
Grumi, S., Capelli, E., Provenzi, L., Morelli, F., Riva, B., Carraro, L., Ghiberti, C., Luparia, A., & Signorini, S. G. (2025) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2025.113104 · Cited by 3
Rethinking the study of newborn sociality: Challenges and opportunities
Simpson, E. A. (2025) · Infant Behavior and Development · doi:10.1016/j.infbeh.2025.102149 · Cited by 3
Ausdruck, Erkennen und Erleben von Emotion bei psychischen Störungen
Wolf, K., Maß, R., Lambert, M., Wiedemann, K., & Naber, D. (2013) · Der Nervenarzt · doi:10.1007/s00115-013-3778-8 · Cited by 3
DiCorcia, J. A., Snidman, N. C., & Tronick, E. (2018) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00128 · Cited by 3
Maurer, D. M. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108351959.006 · Cited by 3
Remete, E. P., Tóth, I., Gervai, J., & Lakatos, K. (2012) · Pszichológia · doi:10.1556/pszicho.32.2012.2.4 · Cited by 3
Early conversations: communication and dialogue
Reddy, V. (2010) · Acción Psicológica · doi:10.5944/ap.7.2.211 · Cited by 3
Reactividade infantil e a qualidade da interacção mãe-filho
Faria, A., & Fuertes, M. (2012) · Análise Psicológica · doi:10.14417/ap.470 · Cited by 3
Infant Learning in the Digital Age
Rusnak, S. N., & Barr, R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108351959.016 · Cited by 3
Campagna, A. X., Pham, C., & Gartstein, M. A. (2021) · Developmental Psychobiology · doi:10.1002/dev.22198 · Cited by 3
Von der Partnerschaft zur Elternschaft
Cierpka, M., Frey, B., Scholtes, K., & Köhler, H. (2011) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-20296-4_8 · Cited by 3
Infants' Perceptions of Mothers' Phone Use: Is Mothers' Phone Use Generating the Still Face Effect?
Kildare, C. (2017) · University of North Texas Digital Library (University of North Texas) · doi:10.12794/metadc984229 · Cited by 3
Kulari, G. (2018) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/327d4efcz65c6z4a51z849ez8549259767c0 · Cited by 3
The Development of Touch Perception and Body Representation
Bremner, A. J. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108351959.009 · Cited by 3
Hayne, H., & Herbert, J. S. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108351959.012 · Cited by 1
Hold on Tight! Linking Emotions and Actions in the Infant Brain
Roberti, E., Turati, C., Quadrelli, E., & Hoehl, S. (2025) · Infancy · doi:10.1111/infa.70029 · Cited by 2
Henderson, A. M. E., Bednarski, F. M., Taumoepeau, M., Sagar, M. A., Knott, A., & Takáč, M. (2026) · Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rstb.2024.0373 · Cited by 2
Canori, C., Pedretti, G., Travain, T., Annoni, C., Sabbadini, L., & Valsecchi, P. (2026) · Animal Cognition · doi:10.1007/s10071-026-02059-z · Cited by 2
Jayaraman, S., & Smith, L. B. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108351959.020 · Cited by 2
Mueller, I., Snidman, N. C., DiCorcia, J. A., & Tronick, E. (2024) · Infancy · doi:10.1111/infa.12631 · Cited by 2
Self- and Co-Regulation in European Caregiver-Child Dyads
Pauen, S., Mata, C., Fumagalli, M., Giannì, M. L., Morniroli, D., Książek, J., Marijnissen, L., Southgate, V., Pluta, A., & Kampis, D. (2025) · European Psychologist · doi:10.1027/1016-9040/a000543 · Cited by 2
Choudhury, M., Walter, E. E., Gao, Z., Newton, E., Radhakrishnan, S., & Doyle, F. L. (2024) · Infant Behavior and Development · doi:10.1016/j.infbeh.2024.101982 · Cited by 2
Schneebeli, L., Braune‐Krickau, K., Crameri, A., Joliat, A., & von Wyl, A. (2026) · Computers in Human Behavior Reports · doi:10.1016/j.chbr.2026.101129 · Cited by 2
Do adults’ pretense signals promote pretend play behavior in children?
Ban, M., & Uchiyama, I. (2015) · The Japanese journal of psychology · doi:10.4992/jjpsy.86.14309 · Cited by 2
Cooperation and obligation in early parent-child relationships
Thompson, R. A. (2020) · Behavioral and Brain Sciences · doi:10.1017/s0140525x19002474 · Cited by 2
Embodied Brain Model for Understanding Functional Neural Development of Fetuses and Infants
Yamada, Y., Kanazawa, H., & Kuniyoshi, Y. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108351959.001 · Cited by 3
Analiza interakcji dziecko–rodzic. Wprowadzenie dla studentów, klinicystów i badaczy
Niedźwiecka, A. (2021) · Wydawnictwo Liberi Libri eBooks · doi:10.47943/lib.9788363487539 · Cited by 2
Le GRAND livre des 1000 premiers jours de vie
(2021) · Dunod eBooks · doi:10.3917/dunod.smith.2021.02.0325 · Cited by 2
Emotional regulation in infants of postpartum depressed mothers
Franklin, C. L. (2009) · doi:10.17077/etd.yzwfcfsc · Cited by 2
Developmental Changes in Infants' Knowledge of the Instrumental Value of Babbling
Vollmer, L. (2007) · eCommons (Cornell University) · Cited by 2
Individual and developmental differences in attention regulation during the still-face procedure
Whitehead, M. M. (2005) · Cited by 2
An Ontological Argument against Mandatory Face-MasksPreprint
Kowalik, M. (2021) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.3840787 · Cited by 2
3-year-olds engage in joint action, but 5-year-olds engage in joint ideation
Majdoubi, N., Benmarrakchi, F., & O’Madagain, C. (2026) · Journal of Experimental Child Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.jecp.2026.106492 · Cited by 1
Therapeutic action in psychoanalytic therapy with toddlers and parents
Salomonsson, B. (2015) · Journal of Child Psychotherapy · doi:10.1080/0075417x.2015.1048122 · Cited by 1
Mihailova, M. (2021) · Bloomsbury Publishing Plc eBooks · doi:10.5040/9781501347894 · Cited by 1
Fu, H., Tang, L., Rosen, O., Hipwell, A. E., Huppert, T. J., & Krafty, R. T. (2023) · Biostatistics · doi:10.1093/biostatistics/kxad034 · Cited by 1
Mathur, S., Doyle, F. L., Tang, J., Klein, L. A., Eapen, V., Frick, P. J., Kimonis, E. R., Hawes, D. J., Moul, C., Richmond, J. L., et al. (2024) · Infancy · doi:10.1111/infa.12635 · Cited by 1
Diversity and Ethnic Conflicts
Weissmark, M. S. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190686345.003.0008 · Cited by 1
Amso, D., & Tummeltshammer, K. S. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108351959.007 · Cited by 1
Attachment, Cognitive Dissonance and Reciprocation in Intellectual Disability Care Provision
de Vries, J., & McGlinchey, E. (2023) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-27496-1_4 · Cited by 1
The Perception of Emotional Expressions in Infancy
Hoehl, S. (2008) · Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics · Cited by 1
Hinrichs, N., Attolini, S., Zangrandi, M. M., Nazzari, S., & Provenzi, L. (2025) · STAR Protocols · doi:10.1016/j.xpro.2025.104281 · Cited by 1
Mcquaid, N. (2011) · Summit (Simon Fraser University) · Cited by 1
Infants' responses to the still-face situation at five and nine months: Focusing on sex differences
Egami, S., Kutsuki, A., Ogura, T., Kubo, K., & Itakura, S. (2008) · The Japanese journal of psychology · doi:10.4992/jjpsy.79.150 · Cited by 1
The speech disorganizers: Uncooperative addressees and their impact on speakers
Pollard, A. (2015) · Intercultural Pragmatics · doi:10.1515/ip-2015-0008 · Cited by 1
Mattson, W. I., Messinger, D. S., Gangi, D. N., & Myers, N. D. (2018) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-018-33270-9 · Cited by 1
Parental Psychiatric Disorders and Early Interaction: Dysregulation and Repair
Apter, G., & Devouche, É. (2019) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-04769-6_6 · Cited by 1
Weissmark, M. S. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190686345.003.0005 · Cited by 1
Infant Word Learning and Emerging Syntax
Levine, D., Hirsh‐Pasek, K., & Golinkoff, R. M. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108351959.023 · Cited by 2
Infants’ Perception of Auditory Patterns
Cirelli, L. K., & Trehub, S. E. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108351959.008 · Cited by 1
Early Knowledge About Space and Quantity
Newcombe, N. S. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108351959.015 · Cited by 1
The Mirror Neuron System and Social Cognition
Fox, N. A., Salo, V. C., Debnath, R., Morales, S., & Smith, E. G. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108351959.018 · Cited by 1
Applying behavioral epigenetic principles to preterm birth and early stress exposure
Provenzi, L., Guida, E., & Montirosso, R. (2020) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-819262-7.00005-2 · Cited by 1
Cabezas, M., & Salvá, C. P. (2020) · Gredos (University of Salamanca) · Cited by 1
Intersubjectivity through dyadic states of consciousness
Harrison, A. M., & Tronick, E. (2021) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-85031-5.00040-2 · Cited by 1
Oakes, L. M. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108351959.014 · Cited by 1
The Expression of an Age-Old Need for Company
Cinotti, N. (2012) · The Clinical Journal of the International Institute for Bioenergetic Analysis · doi:10.30820/0743-4804-2012-22-87 · Cited by 1
Liotti, G. (2019) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781351213981-4 · Cited by 1
Psychische Störungen post partum
Ziegenhain, U., Möhler, E., Besier, T., Kölch, M. G., & Fegert, J. M. (2020) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-58418-7_39 · Cited by 1
The Impact of Synchronized Tactile Stimulation on Joint Attention in 11-Month-Old Infants
Stein, R. L. (2021) · doi:10.32920/ryerson.14654328.v1 · Cited by 1
Asada, M. (2018) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781119362081.ch2 · Cited by 1
Chua, Y. W., Sánchez, L. J., Ginnell, L., Ledsham, V., Ledsham, V., Hall, J., O’Carroll, S., Cox, R. F. A., Boardman, J. P., Fletcher‐Watson, S., et al. (2023) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/xwvg2 · Cited by 1
Speech Production, Dual-Process Theory, and the Attentive Addressee
Pollard, A. (2012) · UCL Discovery (University College London) · Cited by 1
Reacting to the Analyst's State of Mind
Otte, M. J. (2010) · Psychoanalytic Inquiry · doi:10.1080/07351690903206520
EAKOHASE ARENGUGA IMIKUTE KÕNE-EELSE KOMMUNIKATSIOONI HINDAMINE VANUSES 6 JA 9 KUUD
Ojaste, A. (2012) · DSpace repository (University of Tartu)
Meunier, L. N. (2007) · Texas ScholarWorks (Texas Digital Library)
A Developmental Approach to the Study of Affective Bonds for Human-Robot Interaction
Hiolle, A. (2016) · University of Hertfordshire Research Archive (University of Hertfordshire) · doi:10.18745/th.16566
Adults' and Children's Identification of Faces and Emotions from Isolated Motion Cues
Gonsiorowski, A. (2022) · Digital Archive @ GSU · doi:10.57709/8514370
Crosby, C. M. (2005) · The Mathematics Enthusiast
Doiron, K. M. (2015) · Spectrum Research Repository (Concordia University)
Rooyen, V., & Elizabeth, H. (2016)
Yaylaci, F. T. (2016) · University of Minnesota Digital Conservancy (University of Minnesota)
The Relations of Stress and Parental Sensitivity to Deferred Imitation in Infants
Cordick, J. (2009) · TSpace (University of Toronto)
NISHIKAWA, A., Ogino, M., & Asada, M. (2013) · The Proceedings of JSME annual Conference on Robotics and Mechatronics (Robomec) · doi:10.1299/jsmermd.2013._1p1-b10_1
Depression in infants and toddlers
Kiseleva, M. (2017) · National Psychological Journal · doi:10.11621/npj.2017.0410
The Research History and Development of Still Face Paradigm
周, 晨. (2019) · Advances in Psychology · doi:10.12677/ap.2019.95112
Regulation and Attachment in Infancy: Still-Face Paradigm and Joint Attention
이솔미 (2015) · Seoul National University Open Repository (Seoul National University)
Caper, R. A. (2020) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781003009863-1
Weissmark, M. S. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190686345.003.0007
Weissmark, M. S. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190686345.003.0006
Weissmark, M. S. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190686345.003.0001
Weissmark, M. S. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190686345.003.0009
Lampl, M. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108351959.002
Hespos, S. J., & Anderson, E. M. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108351959.013
Dual Language Exposure and Early Learning
Brito, N. H. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108351959.024
Reh, R. K., & Werker, J. F. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108351959.021
Development During Infancy in Children Later Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Falck‐Ytter, T., & Jones, E. J. H. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108351959.005
Dynamic Epigenetic Impact of the Environment on the Developing Brain
Champagne, F. A. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108351959.003
Schuwerk, T., & Hannes Rakoczy, B. (2021) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198843290.003.0002
The assessment of cathodic protection of oil well casings
Strong, G., May, P. M., & Jeongsuk, P. (1990) · Murdoch University Research Portal
Psychische Störungen post partum
Spröber, N., & Kölch, M. G. (2013) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-37309-1_31
Commentary: How the Education in Emergencies Field Can Help the United States Respond to COVID-19
Winthrop, R., & Hadani, H. S. (2021) · Journal on Education in Emergencies · doi:10.33682/nwm1-72np
Messinger, D. S., Moffitt, J., Mitsven, S. G., Ahn, Y. A., Custode, S. A., Chervonenko, E., Sadiq, S. B., Shyu, M., & Perry, L. K. (2022) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198855903.013.31
Lockman, J. J., & Tamis‐LeMonda, C. S. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108351959.031
Melinder, A. M. D., Mirandola, C., & Gilstrap, L. L. (2019) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9780429326530-16
Metadata
- Authors
- Adamson, L. B., & Frick, J. E.
- Affiliations
- Georgia State University (US)
- University of Georgia (US)
- Corresponding author
- Adamson, Lauren B.
- ORCID
- Adamson, Lauren B.
- Venue
- Infancy
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2003-10
- Volume
- 4
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 451-473
- ISSN
- 1525-0008 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-7078
- OpenAlex
- W2109725534
- Semantic Scholar
- fe2f4120d0d0208a29e70c7f59e7c042a9590f05
- Cited by
- 449
- References
- 90
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 37 · 2020: 77 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 23 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 25 · 2012: 13
- FWCI
- 14.61
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Infancy (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Face Recognition and Perception
- Keywords
- still-face paradigm, infant social development, infant emotional development
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review