The processes by which biologically
based emotion signals become socialized or
adapted for use in social communication have
recently received renewed attention. Among
the hypothesized processes presumed to
mediate the socialization of emotion, classical
conditioning, instrumental learning, and imitation
appear the most likely candidates
in cognitively immature, preverbal infants
(Lewis & Michalson, 1983; Malatesta & Izard,
1984). A series of experimental studies of the
reinforcement and extinction of infant expressive
behaviors (reviewed by Campos, Barrett,
Lamb, Goldsmith, & Stenberg, 1983) demonstrate
that the emotional behaviors of young
infants are responsive to environmental contingencies.
A substantial body of literature
also indicates that infants are capable of imitating
facial expressions, that they accommodate their responses over time to match a
model, and that they benefit from practice