Non‐verbal behavioural patterns in trilogue play transitions and family alliances

Abstract

This case study focuses on non‐verbal behaviour in father–mother–infant triads. Analyses were done on transitional moments during which the partners exchanged an active role for a participant–observer role, or vice versa. Transitions are known to be crucial moments for revealing familial transactional mechanisms. Our sample was comprised of six non‐clinical families, characterized by different types of functional or problematic alliances (which is the degree of coordination between the partners). Our methodology included micro‐analysis of body and gaze formations, facial expressions, and so on. Data were analysed using the research package ‘THEME’ for the detection of hidden patterns.

Different types of non‐verbal patterns were found, which may be prototypes corresponding to the different types of alliance. The patterns of the families with high alliances had a more elaborate construction and were more efficient for the concluding of transitions than the patterns of families with low alliances, which were either elementary or laborious.

Keywords:

• Non‐verbal interaction
• Pattern
• Transition
• Family alliance
• Infant

Acknowledgement

The research reported in this article was supported by the Swiss National Fund for Scientific Research (FNRS), grant no. 32–37503.93.