Lecture 7: Emotional Development

1
Lecture 7 Emotional Development

• Module Developmental Psychology (4PS014)
• Date 7 March 2008
• Lecturer Dr Lovemore Nyatanga

2
Learning outcomes

• At the end of the session students will be able
  to
• Define Emotion emotional development
• Outline at two models of emotional development
• Evaluate factors that influence emotional
  development

3
What is emotion?

• A state of physiological response to subjective
  feelings cognitions that necessitate action
  (Siegler et al 2007)

4
Nature of Emotions

• Emotions are complex feelings that stem from
  physiological psychological arousal in response
  to perceived or imagined stimuli (after Bukatko
  Daehler 2001).
• Emotions tell us something about temperament,
  adjustment sociability

5
Primary Secondary Emotions

• Primary Emotions are instinctive (adaptive
  responses) to a given situation. Fight or flight
  (autonomic) responses that may be evolutionary in
  origin.
• Secondary Emotions are secondary reactions to
  primary emotions can be learned through
  socialisation.

6
Primary Secondary Emotions
7
Positive Negative Emotions

• Positive

• Negative

8
Self-Conscious Emotions

• At the age of about 2 years children become aware
  of emotions such as guilt, shame, pride
  embarrassment and the links these emotions have
  to other peoples reactions (Siegler et al 2007)
• Self-Conscious Emotions can influence self-esteem.

9
Emotional Intelligence

• The ability to monitor ones own, and others
  feelings and emotions, to discriminate amongst
  them and to use this information to guide ones
  thinking and action (Santrock 2002 p307)
• Emotional intelligence can predict the success of
  social interactions interpersonal relationships

10
Emotional Intelligence (Mayor-Salovey Model 1993)
11
Emotional Intelligence (Goleman Model 1995)
12
Emotional Regulation

• The process initiating, inhibiting, modulating
  internal feeling states and related physiological
  processes, cognitions behaviours (Siegler et al
  2007 p387).

13
Development of Emotional Regulation
14
Development of Emotional Regulation

• Parental expression of emotions (goodness of fit)
• Primary secondary socialisation of emotions
• Gender differences
• Cultural differences
• Individual critical period

15
Measuring Emotional Intelligence

• There appear to be two broad views
• Emotional Intelligence as acquired ability (e.g.
  Mayer Salovey 2000),
• Emotional Intelligence as both ability traits
  (e.g. Bar-On 1997, Goleman 1995)

16
Individual differences in emotional
development(Chess Thomas 1991)
17
Chronology of Emotions (Bukatko Daehler 2001)
18
Gender differences

• Females are more expressive more sensitive to
  other people, emotions than men (Bukatko
  Daehler 2001).
• Girls tend to show more positive emotions than
  boys.
• Socially girls are encouraged to smile more than
  boys.
• Females tend to internalise emotions while males
  externalise.

19
Summary of emotional development

• Emotions are instinctive evolutionary because
  they can be linked to the flight or fight
  responses.
• The secondary process of emotional development
  involves shifting from care-giver regulation to
  own ability to select appropriate emotional
  reactions
• Self-Conscious Emotions are associated with self
  esteem
• Parental expression of emotions can affect the
  childs emotional regulation
• Emotional Intelligence is thought to predict
  academic social achievements
• There are gender cultural differences in
  emotional regulation

20
Recommended reading

• Bukatko, D. Daehler, M (2001) Child
  Development a thematic approach. Houghton
  Mifflin Boston
• Santrock, J. (2002) Lifespan Development
  (International Edition). McGraw Hill London
• Siegler, R., Deloache, J. Eisenberg, N. (2006)
  How children develop 2nd edition. Worth
  Publishers London, chapter 10 (module textbook)