ふり遊びの文脈における怒るふりの理解の発達

Abstract

This study investigated how young children understand apparent angry expression. Twenty-six younger children (43-59 months, M = 51 months) and 32 older children (61-75 months, M = 68 months) were read stories in which a protagonist was really or apparently angry in a pretend play context and asked about these events. The result showed that only older children could distinguish protagonists' appearance and reality. However, some younger children who could distinguish the appearance and reality judged that the protagonist did not feel angry and that another character inferred that the protagonist did not actually angry, as older children did. These findings suggested young children's limited understanding of apparent angry expression.