Date of Award:

5-1973

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Human Development and Family Studies

Department name when degree awarded

Family and Child Development

Committee Chair(s)

Don C. Carter

Committee

Don C. Carter

Committee

Carroll C. Lambert

Committee

David R. Stone

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the developmental abilities of young middle-class, caucasian children to perceptually discriminate their own segmented facial parts. The Segmented Facial Parts Test, which utilized a black and white, 8 inch by 10 inch photograph, was developed by the investigator as a part of the study. it was designed to explore degrees of developmental variance on facial awareness tasks. The SFPT was incorporated as the testing instrument.

Children ages 8 1/2, 6 1/2 and 4 1/2 years were examined on nine facial segment tasks. Sociological, psychological and psychiatric theories were employed in order to explain the possible interconnections between body awareness and self concept maturation and enhancement. "Whole-part" perception theory was also clarified and substantiated by this study.

Results indicated that mental and chronological maturity are significant variables affecting the amount of facial awareness occurring in young children. Young males and females exhibit no substantial differences in their segmented facial parts awareness. According to this study, younger children adhere to a "wholistic" style of perceptual functioning. "Part" perception becomes more and more apparent as the child's age increases.

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