Week 3: emotions: what are they? & infants and primary emotions

What are emotions?

Subjective reactions to environmental stimuli, often accompanied by physiological changes like heart rate or facial expressions.

Why do emotions matter for children?

They help children communicate their feelings, are linked to social success, and play a crucial role in mental and physical health.

What are the three perspectives on emotional development?

1. Biological (emotions are innate),

2. Learning (explains individual differences),

3. Functional (emotions help achieve social and survival goals).

What are primary emotions?

Fear, joy, disgust, surprise, sadness, and interest.

They emerge early and don't require introspection or self-awareness. Do not depend on a sense of self or awareness of others's reactions

How do newborns show joy?

Newborns reflexively smile due to internal stimuli (e.g., gas), which helps ensure caregiver attention. By 3-8 weeks, infants smile in response to external stimuli like voices or touch.

When do infants typically show social smiling?

Around 2-6 months, infants smile more at familiar faces than unfamiliar ones.

What is a Duchenne smile?

A smile reflecting genuine pleasure, often reserved for close caregivers, characterized by crinkles around the eyes.

What role does culture play in emotional expression?

Culture interacts with biological factors to influence how and when emotions are expressed (e.g., smiling differences based on environment).

What makes infants laugh?

Auditory, tactile, and social stimuli elicit laughter, with frequency increasing as infants age. Visual and social stimuli become more significant in older infants.

What is the timeline for the emergence of fear in infants?

3-7 months: wariness of unfamiliar events

7-9 months: genuine fear, including stranger distress.

What is stranger distress?

An emotional reaction to unfamiliar people, typically emerging around 7-9 months.

What is social referencing?

When children look to caregivers to determine whether an unfamiliar situation is safe or not.

When do infants typically express anger?

By 2-3 months, infants show facial expressions of anger in response to external events.

How does anger expression change in infants?

Anger reactivity peaks between 4-16 months, then decreases as secure attachment is formed.

When do infants show sadness?

Sadness may emerge when parent-child communication breaks down or when separated from familiar caregivers. It's a signal for seeking care and comfort.