Individual Differences in Human Neonates' Responses to Stimulation

Birns, Beverly

doi:10.2307/1126795

Cited by 19 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Their studies center around activation theory ( Bieri, 1955 ;Birns, 1963 ;Fiske and Maddi, 1961 ;and Glanzer, 1959 ). They assert that myopes are individuals who seek to reduce visual stimulation (and possibly other forms of stimulation as well) in order to achieve a level of excitation or arousal that is not excessive.…”

Section: Personality and Myopiamentioning

confidence: 99%

Separation-Individuation Issues and Castration Anxiety: Their Curious Influence on the Epigenesis of Myopia

Seitler

2009

Am J Psychoanal

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This author suggests that myopia is related to psychogenic factors involving an unconscious representation of, and defense against tension. Further, the argument is made that such tension directly causes the extra-ocular muscles of the eyeball to tighten, ultimately creating the errors of refraction, which define the condition known as myopia. The author makes the case that the specific nature of the tension has to do with an interruption in the separation-individuation process that has occurred, in which the myopic individual experiences separation anxiety, and is now "required" to stay close to the mother for fear of abandonment. Apparently, the only way myopes are then able to achieve some sort of psychological distance is through the development of high-level abstract conceptualization abilities. In addition to separation fears, this author notes that myopes exhibit significantly higher levels of castration anxiety as compared with normal-sighted individuals, matched in IQ. Tables showing empirical findings supporting the above psychoanalytic interpretations are provided for the readers review.

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Section: Personality and Myopiamentioning

confidence: 99%

Separation-Individuation Issues and Castration Anxiety: Their Curious Influence on the Epigenesis of Myopia

Seitler

2009

Am J Psychoanal

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“…Certainly he is no longer at the mercy of the environment. Because of this capacity to shut out responses to stimuli which might otherwise overwhelm him, he can select and attend to stimuli with rather narrowly determined properties (for example, a neonate alerts and attends to a female voice in preference to a male voice) (Birns, 1965;Eisenberg, 1969;Korner, 1971). He prefers an ovoid stimulus and a human face to a distorted face, and will stare at it for surprisingly long periods immediately after delivery-long before he has had experience of mothering (Stechler et al, 1966).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…He is set up with pathways for attention and, then, complex reactions to appropriate stimuli at birth. There is evidence that individual differences affect the narrow range of stimuli which call out this attention (Birns, 1965;Korner, 1971). These mechanisms set the stage for individual differences in infants-individual in their capacity to receive and shut out, and then individual in their ability to demonstrate responsive behavior to which the environment can respond with appropriate attachment behavior.…”

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confidence: 99%

Effect of maternal expectations on early infant behavior

Brazelton

1973

Early Child Development and Care

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“…However, inherited temperamental propensities undoubtedly also contribute to preferred level of activation. Birns (19), for example, has reported consistent individual differences in auditory and tactile responsiveness in human neonates in the first few days of life.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Visual Acuity and Stimulus-Seeking Behavior

Palmer

1970

Psychosomatic Medicine

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The classic concept of a sense organ as a passive receiver of stimulation is evolving toward a view that considers its exploratory capabilities and its implications for orientation and arousal. Recent research, for example, suggests that the pupillary response and fixation saccadic eye movements are directly implicated in processes of cortical activation. Results of this study suggest that visual acuity may also be better understood within an activation theory framework. Specifically, the position was taken that individuals with low visual acuity might be seen as persons with low preferred levels of activation who seek to reduce stimulus input to maintain activation at their preferred level. In support of this position, individuals with high uncorrected visual acuity were found to demonstrate a higher preferred level of stimulation and to produce more exciting and novel stories in response to TAT stimuli than did low-acuity individuals.

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Individual Differences in Human Neonates' Responses to Stimulation

Cited by 19 publications

References 7 publications

Separation-Individuation Issues and Castration Anxiety: Their Curious Influence on the Epigenesis of Myopia

Separation-Individuation Issues and Castration Anxiety: Their Curious Influence on the Epigenesis of Myopia

Effect of maternal expectations on early infant behavior

Visual Acuity and Stimulus-Seeking Behavior

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