To what extent does maternal sensitivity shape emotional competence? An examination of the role of maternal sensitivity in shaping emotional regulation.

Outline for Presentation Introduction Rationale Scenario and Video clip Definitions Ecological Framework of agent and outcome Other pertinent theoretical frameworks Literature: Early Childhood through to Adolescence Strengths and Limitations Let’s Answer the Presentation Question Concluding Remarks

Introduction Scenario: If you feel comfortable, close your eyes, and go back to a POSITIVE childhood event that includes your primary caregivers. Try to visualize this event of you and those that were present. What were the emotions you felt at that time? Focus on those emotions. Now, how were they expressed or not-expressed? Try to remember how your caregivers responded to the event. How did you respond? Where the two similar? Different? What or whom influenced you to respond the way that you did??

Rationale for topic As a student in the counselling program, I am interested in emotional regulation and how emotions are learned and modeled by those that shape us. In working with one particular student, she will not cry or express her emotions. Instead, she copes with her emotions by self-harming. I am wondering if she has been socialized to regulate and contain her emotional expression. Emotional processes pervades socialization. The capacity to be emotional is a fundamental, universal aspect of human functioning (Cole & Tan, 2007) Thus, I want to look at maternal sensitivity as a possible agent in emotional regulation.

Video clip While watching the video clip, think about how you might answer these questions:

Definitions of key concepts

Agent: Maternal sensitivity Maternal sensitivity: According to Ainsworth (1969), maternal sensitivity deals with the mother's ability to perceive and to interpret accurately the signals and communications implicit in her child’s behavior, and given this understanding, to respond to them appropriately and promptly. The mother's sensitivity has four essential components: (a) her awareness of the signals; (b) an accurate interpretation of them; (c) an appropriate response to them; and (d) a prompt response to them.

Outcome: Emotional regulation One of the three mechanisms of emotional competence (Eisenberg, Spinrod, & Cumberland, 1998). Individuals can direct or control their emotion by “using physical, cognitive or behavioural strategies to dampen or amplify internal emotional experience and/or emotional expression” (Denham, Bassett, & Wyatt, 2007, p.615).

Ecological Framework

References Ainsworth, M. D. S. (1969). Maternal sensitivity scales. Retrieved from: http://www.psychology.sunysb.edu/ewaters/552/senscoop.ht m Cole, P. M., & Tan, P. Z. (2007). Emotion socialization from a cultural perspective. In J. E. Grusec and P. D. Hastings (Eds.), Handbook of socialization: Theory and research (pp. 516-542). New York, NY: Guilford Press. Denham, S. A., Bassett, H. H., & Wyatt, T. (2007). The socialization of emotional competence. In J. E. Grusec and P. D. Hastings (Eds.), Handbook of socialization: Theory and research (pp. 614-637). New York, NY: Guilford Press. Eisenberg, N., Spinrad, T. L., & Cumberland, A. (1998). The Socialization of Emotion: Reply to Commentaries. Psychological Inquiry, 9(4), 317.