Being Alone, Playing Alone, and Acting Alone: Distinguishing among Reticence and Passive and Active Solitude in Young Children

Abstract

3 forms of solitude were studied in young children--reticence (onlooker and unoccupied behavior), solitary-passive behavior (solitary-constructive and -exploratory play), and solitary-active behavior (solitary-functional and -dramatic play). 48 4-year-old children grouped in quartets of same-sex unfamiliar peers were observed in several situations. Mothers completed the Colorado Temperament Inventory. Results indicated that (1) solitary-passive, solitary-active, and reticent behaviors were nonsignificantly intercorrelated; (2) reticence was stable and associated with the demonstration of anxiety and hovering near others, whereas solitary-passive and solitary-active play were stable yet unrelated to anxiety and hovering; (3) reticence during free play was generally associated with poor performance and displays of wariness in several other social situations, while solitary-passive and -active play were not; (4) reticence was associated with maternal ratings of child shyness, while solitary-active behavior was associated with maternal ratings of impulsivity. Results are discussed in terms of the underlying mechanisms associated with reticence and passive and active withdrawal.

Longitudinal trajectories of social reticence with unfamiliar peers across early childhood.

“…In addition, toddlers with behavioral inhibition may be at risk for social withdrawal and social isolation as development continues, but not all inhibited toddlers develop these social behavior profiles (Fox et al, 2001; Rubin et al, 2009). Social reticence, a subtype of social withdrawal, has often been equated with behavioral inhibition and represents a style of social behavior where children observe peers from a distance, remaining unoccupied in either social company or non-social play (Coplan et al, 1994; Rubin et al, 2002). Previous discussions regarding behavioral inhibition and social inhibition suggest an underlying physiological profile reflective of an enhanced behavioral inhibition system responding to novel and unfamiliar contexts (Asendorpf, 1990; Gray, 1987).…”

“…Given the literature on the moderate links between behavioral inhibition and social reticence and the evidence for discontinuity in the sequelae of behavioral inhibition over time, it was expected that behavioral inhibition would differentiate the trajectories with initially higher social reticence from those with initially lower social reticence (Coplan et al, 1994; Rubin et al, 1997; 2002). Indeed, relations between singular measures of behavioral inhibition and social reticence were modest when each time point was considered independently (see Table 2).…”

“…Interrater reliability was computed on 10-20% of the sample at each age and (ICCs) ranged from .82 to .90 ( M = .86). Similar to others in the literature (Coplan et al, 1994; Rubin et al, 2002), the proportion of time unoccupied/onlooking was created at each age by dividing the amount of time unoccupied by the total time given to clean up the toys ( M range: .07 - .27; SD = .09 – .25).…”

“…Examining relations between behavioral inhibition and social behavior, Coplan and colleagues (1994) found that behaviorally inhibited toddlers displayed what they termed social reticence in the presence of novel, or unfamiliar, peers. Specifically, these children were observed to display onlooking, unoccupied behavior, and they did not engage in either social or solitary play (Coplan, Rubin, Fox, Calkins, & Stewart, 1994).…”

“…Specifically, these children were observed to display onlooking, unoccupied behavior, and they did not engage in either social or solitary play (Coplan, Rubin, Fox, Calkins, & Stewart, 1994). Rubin and colleagues (1997; 2002) also explored associations among behavioral inhibition, observed in various contexts at age two, and social reticence, observed with unfamiliar peers at ages two and four.…”