Lecture 7 - The Development of Emotions

Question 1

What are emotions?

Answer 1

-Changes in the following domains in response to a stimuli or a situation:
1-Physiological factors = heart/breathing rate
2-Subjective feelings = linked to that emotional state
3-Cognitions and perceptions = associated with that feeling
4-Expressive behaviour = outward expression of the emotion
5-The desire to take action = escape/approach/change

Question 2

Infant’s recognition of emotions

Answer 2

• At 3 months infants can distinguish between happy, surprised and angry faces
• By 7 months they can distinguish between fear and sadness

Question 3

Emergence of positive emotions

Answer 3

• Smiles are the first positive emotions infants express
• Between the 3rd and 8th week infants begin to smile in reaction to external stimuli
• By the 3rd month infants exhibit social smiles (those directed towards people)
• At 7 months infants primarily smile at familiar people which strengthens bonds
• Towards the end of the first year they start to laugh at surprising/unexpected events

Question 4

Emergence of negative emotions

Answer 4

• First negative emotion is generalised distress due to hunger/pain/overstimulation
• Not until about 4 months infants start to become wary of unfamiliar objects/events but not people
• At 6-7 months fear can be observed to people, particularly strangers
• Separation anxiety increases from 8-15 months
• By their 1st birthday infants begin to express anger

Question 5

Emergence of self conscious emotions

Answer 5

• End of 2nd year show a range of emotions (guilt, pride,shame)
• Linked to developing a sense of self
• [Barrett et al.,1993] 2 year olds played with a doll that was rigged so one leg fell off when the experimenter left the room, some showed behaviours that indicated shame (avoided the experimenter) whilst others showed behaviours that indicated guilt (attempted to repair the doll)