2. Emotions

Question 1

Definitions of emotion

Answer 1

Subjective reaction to environment, pleasant or unpleasant experiences, accompanied by a form of physiological arousal, often communicated to others

A feeling/fact that occurs when people are engaged in an interaction that is important to them, especially if it influences their wellbeing

Question 2

Biological perspective

Answer 2

Emotions are innate
The same across all cultures
Different timelines of development but the same sequence

Question 3

Evidence for biological approach

Answer 3

Twin studies - similarities in smiling between identical twins
Premature baby studies - premature babies still smiled 46 weeks after conception, despite being born earlier

Question 4

Cognitive (learning) perspective

Answer 4

Different emotions are expressed at different times, frequencies and intensities
3 sources of learning:
Reward/punishment
Operant conditioning
Observing others

Question 5

Functionalist approach

Answer 5

The main function of emotions is to kickstart behaviour leading to attaining our personal goals

Question 6

Func. approach - cognitive processing

Answer 6

We learn essential lessons about survival from emotional reactions e.g. strong emotional reaction of a parent when you’re about to walk into the street

Emotional reactions lead to learning

*Anxiety - performance anxiety can affect behaviour. Focus on perceived threat rather than task

Question 7

Func. approach - bidirectional relationship

Answer 7

emotions affect what we do (actions derived from processing) & what we do is affected by our emotions

Question 8

Func. approach - social behaviour

Answer 8

The behaviour of others is affected by emotional signals displayed by children & emotional reactions of others help regulate children’s social behaviour

Infants communicate through emotional displays e.g. expressions (reading them and producing them)

Question 9

Func. approach - health

Answer 9

Lack of emotional wellbeing can lead to health problems
e.g. stress leading to cardiovascular issues

Question 10

Basic emotions

Answer 10

Surprise
Interest
Joy
Contentment
Anger
Sadness
Fear
Disgust
Distress

Question 11

Basic emotions from birth

Answer 11

Interest
Contentment
Disgust
Distress

Question 12

Func. approach & self-awareness

Answer 12

Emotions contribute to the development of self-awareness
e.g. interest & excitement leading to a sense of self-efficacy (belief in our ability to succeed in controlling events)

Question 13

Surprise

Answer 13

2-7 months
Special developments - begins through discovery that they can control certain object/events

Question 14

Joy

Answer 14

4-6 weeks (social smiling)
Same development about control

Question 15

Usefulness of smiles

Answer 15

Parents & other adults are more likely to give attention and respond positively

Question 16

Anger

Answer 16

2.5-3 months

Seen when they can’t control something

Question 17

Sadness

Answer 17

2.5-3 months

Same as anger, control is prevented
Breakdown in parent-infant communication
Separation from caregiver

usefulness: a way of controlling their environment

Question 18

Fear

Answer 18

3 months - wariness

7-9 months - true fear
Separation anxiety & stranger distress

Usefulness: gets the attention of caregivers, increasing chance of survival

Question 19

Lewis’ Theory

Answer 19

Cognitive development - learning is required to unlock certain emotions
Complex emotions: 2 types
- Self-conscious
- Self-evaluative

Question 20

Self-conscious emotions

Answer 20

Emotions requiring self-recognition to be experienced i.e. recognizing yourself in the mirror/a photograph

Our sense of self is injured
Evidence - the only toddlers who show embarrassment are those who already demonstrate self-recognition

Embarrassment

Question 21

Self-evaluative emotions

Answer 21

Emotions requiring self-recognition and an understanding of expected conduct, rules about how you should behave

Shame, guilt, pride

Question 22

Parental influence

Answer 22

• Children with encouraging and celebratory mothers showed more pride after successes and less shame after failures
• Children with critical mothers showed more shame after failures and less pride after successes

Question 23

Secondary emotions

Answer 23

18-24 months
Guilt
Shame/embarrassment

1 year
Pride
Envy/jealousy

Question 24

Guilt - Special Developments

Answer 24

Requires development of sense of personal responsibility & internalisation of moral standards

Question 25

Pride & Shame/Embarrassment - Special Developments

Answer 25

Become better at evaluating performances on tasks (at age 3 show shame on easy task)

Motivation, child has to be able to send difference between easily/difficult and success/failure

Question 26

Envy/Jealousy - Special Developments

Answer 26

• social emotion, occurs among 3 people
• younger children display as distress
• older children display as sadness/anger

Can help gain the attention of caregivers

Question 27

Emotional self-regulation

Answer 27

strategies used to manage emotions/adjust emotional arousal to an appropriate intensity level, increases as age increases

Question 28

Emotional competence

Answer 28

ability to control emotions and know when it’s appropriate to express certain ones

Question 29

3 Components of Emotional Competence

Answer 29

1. Competent emotional expressivity (more positive than negative)
2. Competent emotional knowledge (identifying emotions and their sources in others)
3. Competent emotional regulation (appropriate emotional expression)

Question 30

Results of Emotional Competence

Answer 30

Better emotional regulation
Better dealing with stressful situations
More social success

Question 31

+ How do we do this