the emergence of human emotions

Question 1

Where do emotional reactions come from in very young children, according to this chapter? What factors can cause changes in these reactions as the child ages?

Answer 1

In young children, emotional reactions come from the invocation of an action pattern via interaction with an emotion elicitor. Factors that can cause changes in these reactions as the child ages include culture, the emergence of consciousness, and increase of cognitive capacity (meaning the child has more experiences, so more things trigger the same action pattern).

Question 2

What are emotion elicitors? What are action patterns?

Answer 2

Emotion elicitors are environmental stimuli which invoke an action pattern, such as the sour taste of a lemon invoking the disgust action pattern. Action patterns are facial expressions, vocalizations, and body movements that are in response to emotion elicitors.

Question 3

According to this chapter when an infant is first born, it has primary action patterns. Describe the primary action patterns that the infant is born with. What two things does the infant eventually develop that allows it to have more differentiated emotions?

Answer 3

An infant is born with approach and withdrawal primary action patterns. Approach primary action patterns include joy, anger, and interest. Withdrawal primary action patterns include sadness and disgust. Fear has factors of both approach and withdrawal primary action patterns. The child develops cognition and eventually consciousness, which leads to differentiation of action patterns via socialization rules. Through the development of cognitive capacity (standards, rules, and goals), basic emotions are further differentiated into self-conscious evaluative emotions.