ABSTRACT
Infants have limited capacity for self-regulation and resort to clear coping mechanisms when distressed. One well-known method for observing this is the ‘stillface’ procedure, developed by Tronick (2007) and replicated all over the world. In this a mother is asked to interact ordinarily with her infant, who is normally between three and six months old. Then the mother is signalled to hold a still and expressionless face for up to two minutes. Infants generally are surprised and perplexed by this, with a sense that ‘this is not what is meant to happen’. Some infants work hard to try to re-initiate the interaction, others display more negative expressions, such as grimacing, and still others use both kinds together. Many babies manage by looking away, cutting off or self-soothing.
