Presentation 2016-12-20
Tolerance for infant crying and associated individual differences
Takahiro Kirita, Shoko Kaneya,
PDF Download Page PDF download Page Link
Abstract(in Japanese) (See Japanese page)
Abstract(in English) In this research, we examined how tolerance for the sound of a crying infant, which could be defined as a low discomfort level, is associated with individual personality traits, especially empathy. Two hundred eighty-seven college and junior college students answered a questionnaire which consisted of Discomfort Scale of Infant Crying, Multidimensional Empathy Scale, Emotional Contagion Scale, Sensory Sensitivity Scale, Trait Anxiety Scale and some personal attribute questions. A path analysis was carried out to clarify the causal relation from personal factors to the degree of discomfort of infant crying. As a result, the hierarchical factor structure, which should determine the degree of discomfort of the sound of a crying infant, became clear. Firstly, “anger contagion” and “sensitivity to noise and commotion” increased “personal distress,” which was one component of emotional empathy, and then the personal distress raised the discomfort degree of infant crying. Secondly, “happiness contagion” and “sadness contagion” increased “empathic concern,” which was another component of emotional empathy, and in turn, it possessed the role to reduce the discomfort degree of infant crying. In addition, “perspective taking,” which was one component of cognitive empathy, was shown to raise the empathic concern while reducing the personal distress. Lastly, the cuddle experience of infants was shown to contribute to decrease the degree of unpleasantness of infant crying directly.
Keyword(in Japanese) (See Japanese page)
Keyword(in English) infant crying / tolerance / unpleasantness / empathy
Paper # HIP2016-61
Date of Issue 2016-12-13 (HIP)

Conference Information
Committee HIP / ITE-HI / ITE-CE
Conference Date 2016/12/20(2days)
Place (in Japanese) (See Japanese page)
Place (in English) Reserach Institute of Electrical Communication, Tohoku University
Topics (in Japanese) (See Japanese page)
Topics (in English)
Chair Masahiro Ishii(Sapporo City Univ.) / 佐藤 雅之(北九州市大) / 南 浩次(三菱電機)
Vice Chair Miyuki Kamachi(Kogakuin Univ.) / Shuichi Sakamoto(Tohoku Univ.)
Secretary Miyuki Kamachi(Tokushima Univ.) / Shuichi Sakamoto(Univ. of Tsukuba) / (Nagoya Univ.) / (NTT)
Assistant Rika Mochizuki(NTT) / Mutsumi Suganuma(Waseda Univ.) / Atsushi Wada(NICT)

Paper Information
Registration To Technical Committee on Human Information Processing / Technical Group on Human Information / Technical Group on Consumer Electronics
Language JPN
Title (in Japanese) (See Japanese page)
Sub Title (in Japanese) (See Japanese page)
Title (in English) Tolerance for infant crying and associated individual differences
Sub Title (in English)
Keyword(1) infant crying
Keyword(2) tolerance
Keyword(3) unpleasantness
Keyword(4) empathy
1st Author's Name Takahiro Kirita
1st Author's Affiliation Iwate Prefectural University(IPU)
2nd Author's Name Shoko Kaneya
2nd Author's Affiliation Iwate Prefectural University(IPU)
Date 2016-12-20
Paper # HIP2016-61
Volume (vol) vol.116
Number (no) HIP-377
Page pp.pp.1-6(HIP),
#Pages 6
Date of Issue 2016-12-13 (HIP)