10.3 Emotion Regulation

Question 1

What is emotion regulation?

Answer 1

a set of conscious and unconscious processes used to monitor and modulate emotional experiences and expressions

Question 2

What is the most reliable approach to calm an upset infant?

Answer 2

1. holding or rocking while talking soothingly (успокаивающе)
2. feeding (as long as they are not too upset)

Question 3

How are the emotional states of young infants controlled?

Answer 3

externally by co-regulation

Question 4

What is co-regulation?

Answer 4

when a caregiver gives a child the comfort or distraction they need to reduce their stress

Question 5

When does emotion regulation first appear in children?

Answer 5

by 5 months of age, infants can use very basic techniques to calm themselves when they are upset

Question 6

Which strategies do infants use to regulate their arousal?

Answer 6

1. self-comforting behaviours: repetitive pleasurable actions like sucking fingers and rubbing hands together
2. self-distraction: looking away from the thing that is making them upset

Question 7

How do the strategies children use to regulate their emotions change throughout the first year?

Answer 7

1. decrease self-comforting
2. increase self-distraction

Question 8

Why do the strategies children use to regulate their emotions change throughout the first year?

Answer 8

1. frontal lobe matures, increasing attention and inhibition
2. adults expect them to manage their own emotions

Question 9

How does children’s compliance develop?

Answer 9

1. 9-12 months: appears
2. 1-2 years: grows rapidly
3. 2-3 years: emotional outbursts
4. 3-4 years: less emotional outburts, more negotiation

Question 10

How do children’s emotional regulation abilities develop in the early years?

Answer 10

1. improve ability to self-distract by playing
2. less likely to seek comfort from parents

Question 11

How does children’s attentional control affect their emotional control?

Answer 11

1. early years: not hurting others, staying seated at school
2. adolescence: decline in risk-taking, improvement in judgement

Question 12

How do older children’s strategies for emotional regulation differ from younger children’s?

Answer 12

1. younger children use behavioural strategies like distracting themselves with play
2. older children also use cognitive stratgies and problem-solving

Question 13

What are some examples of the cognitive strategies that older children use to regulate their emotions?

Answer 13

1. rethink goals
2. reevaluate meaning of events

e.g. when teased, downplay importance of teasing, rather than reacting emotionally, as that would provoke more teasing

Question 14

What has been shown to be effective in improving emotional regulation amongst autistic children?

Answer 14

cognitive behavioural therapy:
1. recognize own negative thought patterns
2. learn ways to adjust those thoughts and related behaviours

Question 15

What is social competence?

Answer 15

the ability to achieve personal goals in social interactions while still keeping positive relationships with the people you are interacting with

Question 16

Which things do children need in order to be well adjusted and liked by others?

Answer 16

1. inhibit inappropriate behaviours
2. delay gratification
3. use cognitive methods of controlling their emotions
4. deal constructively with situations:
   
   • negotiate to settle conflicts
   • plan strategies to resolve upsetting situations
   • seek social support

Question 17

What consequences can happen to children who cannot regulate their emotions?

Answer 17

1. risk of being bullied
2. do worse in school