The nature of emotion in mentally retarded people is considered. Recent research and theory suggest that two approaches are applicable to the study of mental retardation: the behavioral tradition, particularly conditioned emotional responding as well as emotional expression and recognition; and recent investigations of emotional development in…

The ability of 10 9-month-old infants with Down's syndrome to acquire a simple contingency was assessed. Unlike a group of nondisabled infants, the Down's syndrome infants did not, in general, learn the contingency. Results are related to the possibility of a decline in conditionability with age and a relationship between conditionability and…