Nonverbal communication patterns in siblings during prosocial and agonistic conditions

This study investigated nonverbal communication patterns in siblings in the prosocial, neutral, and agonistic conditions. Sixty-four children aged 3 years 3 months to 9 years 6 months (16 same-gender and 16 mixed-gender sibling dyads) participated. All children's behaviors were coded using the system for Identifying Affect Expressions by Holistic Judgments (AFFEX, facial expressions) and the Behavioral Coding System (BCS) for behaviors. The major finding was that all children were as likely to imitate positive facial expressions in the prosocial as in the aggressive conditions. However, they were more likely to imitate positive behaviors in the prosocial condition and negative behaviors in the aggressive condition. Age within the dyad was the most important subject factor affecting imitation of positive facial expressions and positive and negative behaviors. Younger children tended to imitate their older siblings more than the reverse. Gazing at the older siblings' nonverbal behaviors (NVBs) was an important precursor during both prosocial and aggressive play situations. Of paradigmatic importance is the finding on dyad-gender effects that all-female dyads imitated positive facial expressions as part of their communication during aggressive play