Visiting Santa: a further look

Psychol Rep. 2006 Dec;99(3):993-6. doi: 10.2466/PR0.99.3.993-996.

Abstract

An informal enquiry of the facial expressions of children as they queued up to meet Santa Claus during the 2003 Yuletide season showed that about 8 out of 10 children appeared to be indifferent to seeing Santa. This replication of the study in 2004 resulted in an approximately similar finding. A repeat of these enquiries, in 2005, suggested that the indifference rate appeared to lessen (being somewhat more cheerful) the closer was Christmas.

MeSH terms

  • Affect*
  • Child Behavior / psychology*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Facial Expression*
  • Fantasy*
  • Female
  • Holidays*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Social Environment*