1. CHILDHOOD EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT and EXPOSURE to VIOLENCE
Presented by
Ian Campbell
08 February 2014

2. Emotional needs. What are they?
Secure relationship with parent/caregiver
Receive modelling to manage emotions
Receive emotional support when experiencing difficulty
Sense of belonging
Feel accepted, approved of, and
Clear expectations, routines and boundaries

3. Development of Emotional Competence

4. Infancy 0 to 1 Regulation of Emotions Expression of Emotions
Self-soothing
Relies on carer to ‘scaffold’ during stress
Expression of Emotions
Non-verbal emotional expression increases
to stimuli under own control
Managing emotional relationships
Social referencing
Turn taking: peek - a - boo

5. Toddler 1-2: terrible twos
Regulation of Emotions
Increased awareness of own emotional responses
Irritable when limits placed on autonomy
Expression of Emotions
Increased verbal expression of emotions
Self consciousness: shame, pride, coy
Managing Emotional Relationships
Anticipates feelings towards others
Rudimentary empathy and altruism

6. Pre-school 2-5 Regulation of Emotions Expression of Emotions
Language: self-talk and communicates feelings. Regulates emotional state – if internal working model is intact
Expression of Emotions
Increases pretending in play and teasing. Experimental.
Managing Emotional Relationships
Insight into other’s emotions
Aware false emotion can mislead others. Pretend cry. Gain ?

7. Kindergarten 5-7 Regulation of Emotions Expression of Emotions
Regulates self consciousness e g. Shame
Less involvement of caregiver to regulate emotion
Expression of Emotions
Presents cool emotional front to peers
Managing Emotional Relationships
Increased use of social skills
Complies with agreed emotional scripts. Quiet if someone crying, happy at Birthday party

8. Middle Childhood 7-10 Regulation of Emotions Expression of Emotions
Autonomous regulation preferred to caregiver
Distancing strategies to manage emotions - control
Expression of Emotions
Increased use of emotional expression to regulate relationships
Managing Emotional Relationships
Aware can feel multiple emotions about same person
Uses this skill in multiple contexts to maintain relations

9. Secure Attachment Secure child + secure adult Child is autonomous
Adult is autonomous
Parenting is responsive, and
Family style is adaptable

10. Anxious-ambivalent Anxious-ambivalent child + Preoccupied adult
Child is angry/clingy
Adult is preoccupied
Parenting is intermittently available –poker machine parenting
Family style is enmeshed

11. Avoidant Avoidant child + Dismissing adult Child is avoidant
Adult is dismissing
Parenting is rejecting, and
Family style is disengaged

12. Disorganised Disorganised child + Fearful adult
Child is clingy/avoidant
Adult has approach/avoidance conflicts
Parenting is abusive or absent
Family style is disoriented