Emotional Development 12 volunteers

Emotions What is an emotion? Disgust Fear Anger Sadness Shame Guilt

Primary Emotions Biologically programmed We all begin to understand/ express them at the same time How do we measure? –Facial features, heart rate, brain activity, sucking response At Birth –Express-Interest, distress, disgust, contentment –Variations on crying Basic crying- cry, brief silence, noisy inhale, rest- HungerBasic crying- Angry crying- more forceful cry Pain cry- very loud, sudden onset- stimulated by startle or pain 2-7 months –Express-Anger, sadness, joy, surprise, fear

Secondary Emotions 1 ½ - 2 years, self-conscious emotions begin –Embarrassment, envy –“self-conscious” because we need an awareness of self vs others –Develop in synch with self-recognition –Involve damage or disruption to the sense of self 2 ½ - 4 yrs: Self-evaluative emotions begin –Shame, guilt, pride, embarrassment, envy –“self-evaluative” emotion requires self-recognition and awareness of or knowledge of rules for evaluating behavior

Influences on Development How do adults react to emotionally distressing situations? Hyper, Lethargy, Anger, Embarrassment What influences how we react? –Who’s watching? –Parental models –Context Children early on display emotions only for an audience Display one set of emotions only in a given situation (different emotions with grandma than with mom)

Influences Emotional Display Rules –Parents respond more to positive over negative emotions By three years, we learn to express different emotions than what we are feeling (there are “rules” as to when we express certain emotions) Methods of self-regulation –How do adults regulate emotions? Physical activity, distractions, shopping, eating, call a friend

Self-Regulation How do infants regulate emotions? –Gaze Aversion Parent-child interaction too stimulating Increased activity levels, flailing Looks away to decrease- Gottman research –Increased sucking or chewing Early self-soothing behavior Self-soothing behaviors: chewing on hands, thumb sucking, cooing, self-talk

Self-Regulation By end of the 1st year –Move away from distressing source or cause of negative emotion as child gains locomotion, ability to move away under his/her own power is the easiest way to cope. By age 2 –Self distraction –Looking away –Talking to self, others –Thinking about something else to counteract fear

Examination of Online Handout