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The dark side of fear expression: Infant crying as a trigger for maladaptive parental responses

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 May 2023

Christine E. Parsons Open the ORCID record for Christine E. Parsons [Opens in a new window]  and
Joshua C. Skewes
Christine E. Parsons
Affiliation:
Interacting Minds Centre (IMC), Aarhus University, Aarhus C 8000, Denmark [email protected]; https://pure.au.dk/portal/en/persons/christine-parsons(8828f773-0764-4eb0-959d-3357956aec4f).html [email protected]; https://pure.au.dk/portal/en/persons/joshua-skewes(22c8a4e5-1104-4c4e-9c17-b84a9233e905).html
Joshua C. Skewes
Affiliation:
Interacting Minds Centre (IMC), Aarhus University, Aarhus C 8000, Denmark [email protected]; https://pure.au.dk/portal/en/persons/christine-parsons(8828f773-0764-4eb0-959d-3357956aec4f).html [email protected]; https://pure.au.dk/portal/en/persons/joshua-skewes(22c8a4e5-1104-4c4e-9c17-b84a9233e905).html
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Abstract

While infant fearfulness, and its expression via crying, may have been adaptive in our evolutionary history, for modern parents, crying can be challenging to respond to. We discuss how and why prolonged crying can raise the risk for difficulties with adult care. Given that crying is the most-reported trigger for shaking, its potential to elicit maladaptive responses should not be overlooked.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 46 , 2023 , e75
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press

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