"A 'still-face' experiment... is one in which a mother is asked to sit with her four-month old infant facing her and when signaled, to stop interfacing with her child. This 'still' phase in which no verbal or nonverbal signals are to be shared with the child is profoundly distressing.
For up to three minutes, the child attempts to engage the now non-responsive parent in a bod for connection. At first the child usually amps up her signals, increasing smiles, coos, eye contact. But after a period of continuing non-response, she becomes agitated and distressed, her organized bids for connection melting into signs of anguish and outrage. She may then attempt to soothe herself by placing her hand in her mouth or pulling on her clothes.
Sometimes the researchers or parents call off the experiment at this time, but sometimes the experiment goes on until the infant withdraws, giving up in a kind of despondent collapse that looks like a melancholic depression. These stages of protest, self-soothing, and despair reveal how much the child depends upon the attuned responses of a parent to keep her own internal world in equilibrium" - Daniel J. Siegel Mindsight book
I recently picked this book up and unfortunately did not finish it. The passage above helped me visualize this experiment. It also made me think about how this applies to business. Is there an equivalent 'still-face' experiment in the work place?
I believe that often the 'worker-bees' try to get the attention of management about the perceived wrongs with the workplace. They attempt to engage their leaders.
Initially the response is there but over time I believe that the 'still-face' effect occurs. The leader withdraws to handle other problems and the employees feel ignored. The workers protest but they are ignored continuously. The workers self-soothe by complaining to each other. This brings them down even further.
Lastly, the culture of the group is destroyed and the group enters a depression. They become grumpy without remembering why they are grumpy. When pushed a little they tend to bring forth a barrage of complains. This time the difference is that the initial desire to improve the workplace is replaced with venom towards the leader.
I believe that the same phenomenon exists in all relationships between people: parenting, marriage, friendships, etc.
Today's question is:
"Have you been guilty of a still-face?"
