An analysis of fidgeting and associated individual differences

Abstract

Fidgeting was defined as engaging in manipulations of one's ovni body parts or other objects, such actions being penpheral or nonessential to central ongoing events or tasks Two studies employed preliminary fidgeting questionnaires of 70 and 106 items, respectively, tapping a wide range of habitual behaviors Item selection and factor analyses led to the development ofa final, 40-item, individual difference measure of fidgeting tendencv which is balanced for response bias and has an alpha reliability coefficient of 89 Convergent and construct validity were supported by positive correlations between the fidgeting tendency measure and measures of tendencies to engage in extraneous activities (consuming alcoholic dnnks, cigarette smoking, eating, daydreaming, restlessness, insomnia) while preoccupied with certain situations and tasks These findings lmphed that fidgeting is an activity overfiow and that it is more probable when the organism's physical activity is constrained by the central or focal act Fidgeting tendency also correlated positively with binge eating and with physical activity In two additional studies, questionnaire fidgeting tendency scores correlated positively with direct observations of fidgeting bv subjects and vnth peer predictions Personality correlates of fidgeting tendency Vi^ere well defined More fidgety persons were more unpleasant and more arousable (l e , more anxious or hostile) Fidgeting tendency did not correlate significantly with subject sex or with arousal-seeking tendencyThe present study was designed to analyze the expressive or communicative significance of fidgeting and to investigate individual differences in fidgeting so as to clarify further this significance "Fidgeting" was defined as engaging m actions that are penpheral or nonessential to ongoing focal tasks or events When treated as a "state" (l e , transitory behavioral) vanable, fidgeting frequency has been investigated as a function of expenmentally induced emotional states of fnistration, discomfort, or conflict Alternatively, when studied as a "trait" (l e , stable behavioral pattem or personality-related) vanable, fidgeting tendency has been correlated with a vanety of personality measures Requests for reprints should be sent to Albert Mehrabian,

Mother–child and metapelet–child touch behavior with three‐year‐old kibbutz children in two contexts

“…These findings indicate that self-touch and touching the other can be two independent modes of behavior, although both may have stress or anxiety reduction as one of their functions (Blackwell, 2000;Bowlby, 1969Bowlby, /1982D'alessio & Zazzetta, 1986;De Wolff & van Ijzendoorn, 1997;Field, 1998;Mehrabian & Friedman, 1986;Ottenbacher, Muller, Brandt, Heintzelman, Hojem, & Sharpe,1987;Rogels et al, 1990). In this study, observers perceived the function of more than 90% of the children's selftouches as tension reduction, and 62% of self-touches by adults were perceived to have such a function.…”

Physical Activity Increases after an Affectively Arousing Daily Life Event

“…If the body prepares to respond to a threatenting situation with physical activity (Cannon, 1927), but then, perhaps because of situational or social constraints, does not actually fight or flee, what happens to the accumulated energy resources? Based on observations that fidgeting tends to occur under conditions that constrain movement, investigators have suggested that fidgeting is a manifestation of an internal or biological urge to move thwarted by situational constraints on movement (Galton, 1885; Mehrabian and Friedman, 1986; Ravussin et al, 1986; Hillemanns et al, 1996). By extension, if individuals experience an urge to move, and are free to move about, they might satisfy this urge with other non-goal directed behavior, such as repeated postural shifting or pacing.…”

“…Indirect support for this contention comes from studies showing that fidgeting occurs under conditions expected to elicit affective arousal, such as a patient waiting in a dentist’s reception area (Barash, 1974), game players waiting for an opponent’s move (Mehrabian and Friedman, 1986), or for an opportunity to win money (Wallace et al, 1975). …”

What do we really know about witness preparation?

“…Despite individual differences in the ways that people express nervousness (Frick, 1985), several behaviors are almost always attributed to it (Harrigan & Taing, 1997). For example, people who frequently use self-and object-adaptors are seen as fidgety and nervous (Leathers, 1997;Mehrabian & Friedman, 1986). Most other extraneous movements that serve no identifiable purpose are also frequently interpreted as signs of nervousness (e.g., foot tapping, hand wringing).…”

“…Common self-adaptors include touching of the hair or face, and common object-adaptors include pencil twirling and finger tapping (Leathers, 1997). 'Fidgeting' is a familiar term that is used to describes the frequent use of adaptors (Mehrabian & Friedman, 1986).…”