未熟児顔の選好要因に関する検討 <原著>

未熟児顔の選好要因について検討するために9名の新生児(3名の未熟児,6名の成熟児)の顔を写真撮影した.45名の大学生・大学院生がそれらの顔を22相貌的特徴項目,22性格的特徴項目,好きな-嫌いなの1項目の計45項目を使用して評価した.因子分析の結果,相貌的特徴では5因子,性格的特徴では3因子が得られた.これら8因子と好きな-嫌いなの得点を未熟児と成熟児で比較したところ,鼻因子,理知性因子で有意な差が認められ,親密感,積極性の2因子で有意な傾向が認められた.このことは未熟児の顔からは,鼻が低く,理知的でなく,親しみが持てず,活発ではないと印象付けられたことを示唆する.ついで顔の好み(好きな-嫌いな)がどの国子によって決定されるかについて調べるために重回帰分析をおこなった.その結果,好みは主に理知性,形態,親密感によって説明されていた.このことは好まれる顔は,理知的印象を与え,丸い顔であり,親密感がもてる顔であることを示した.

The determinant of preference of premature infant faces was examined. Faces of nine infants (three premature infants and six mature infants) were photographed as stimuli. Forty-five students rated their faces on 22 scales concerning physical appearance, 22 scales concerning personality, and one scale of likeliness. A five-factor solution in physical appearance and a three-factor solution in personality were obtained via factor analysis. Eight factor scores and likeliness scores were compared between premature and mature infants. As a result of ratings, premature infants had significantly a lower nose and were significantly less intellectual, less intimate, and less active than mature infants. Multiple regression analysis revealed that likeliness was mainly determined by three factors: intellect, form, and intimate. It suggested that when an infant face had an impression of more intellectual, round, and intimate, it would be preferred.