9 - Emotions Flashcards
What is an emotion?
Feeling or affect
What triggers emotions and why are they triggered
Situations that are important to you. Communicative (tell others it’s important)
What is the main system and main structure that control emotion?
Limbic system, amygdala
Maturation of what 2 structures are crucial for emotion
Cerebral cortex, PFC
What are the 7 basic emotions?
Happy, anger, surprise, disgust, sadness fear, interest
What is the significance of basic emotions being experienced universally
Show emotion is an evolutionary adaptation
What emotional response would you expect to see in a 1 month old
Reflex smile
At what age do babies develop social smiling?
2-3 months
What age do babies develop anger reactions?
4-6 months
When do babies develop fear responses?
6 months
Which of the 7 basic emotions is least understood (developmentally)
disgust
What are the 7 complex emotions?
pride, shame, guilt, embarrassment, empathy, despair, jealousy
Why do complex emotions develop later?
Requires development of self and understanding of others
According to Tompkins et al., how does parents discussing mental states with young children impact a child’s understanding of emotions?
Improves understanding
What needs to develop in order to understand self-conscious emotions
Words to describe abstract reactions in others
When does regret/relief develop
Around 9 years old
Why would a young child experience shame/guilt
External punishment
Why would an older child experience shame/guilt?
Internal inconsistency with values/expectations (for self or others)
How do cultures differ when it comes to emotion?
Extent to which expression is encouraged
Would you expect an American baby or a Chinese baby to cry/smile more?
American. Asian cultures favour restraint
When would a baby be able to differentiate happy faces from sad faces?
≈6 months
What is social referencing?
Unfamiliar situations, infants look to caregivers to interpret if situation is good or bad
According to social referencing, why would a 12 month old be less likely to play with a toy?
Caregiver appears afraid of it
According to social referencing, why would a 18 month old be less likely to play with a toy?
Some adult clowned on this kid’s toy and called it dumb
2 way communication system
- Infant signals distress
- Caregiver soothes
- Distress reduced
- parent has modelled how to soothe unpleasant emotions
How does diverting attention help with emotional regulation
Divert to less emotional thoughts/feelings
Greater cognitive skills have what effect on emotional regulation?
= greater emotional regulation
What is temperament?
Infant’e emotional reactivity and regulation