Violation of expectancy and frustration in early infancy.

This study examines infant instrumental responses during learning and extinction and whether this responses are related to individual differences in temperament as reported by mothers. To explore this problem, a cross-sectional design examining behavioral responding to extinction was initiated. Thre questions were asked: 1) Does a brief period of nonreward following consistent reward lead to an increase in the learned response? 2) Is age an important factor influencing this increased in the learned response? 3) What is the relation between temperament and the infant's reactivity to extinction?