Understanding and Expressing Emotions

Why is emotional development important?

It is universal and adaptive; it helps infants respond to their environment and communicate with others.

What are the five features of emotions?

Emotion elicitors, physiological changes, cognitive appraisal, emotional expression, and communicative function.

What are emotion elicitors?

Internal or external triggers that cause an emotion.

What are physiological changes?

Physical body reactions that occur during an emotional experience.

What is cognitive appraisal?

The process of interpreting or evaluating an emotional situation.

What is emotional expression?

The outward display of an emotion, such as crying, smiling, or facial expressions.

What is the communicative function of emotion?

Emotions communicate information and needs to other people.

What are the two adaptive functions of emotions?

Regulatory functions and social functions.

What is the regulatory function of emotions?

Emotions prepare individuals to respond to situations and potential threats in their environment.

What is the social function of emotions?

Emotions communicate information to others through facial expressions, voices, and body movements.

What did Charles Darwin suggest about emotional expressions?

Humans and nonhuman animals display basic facial expressions, suggesting evolutionary origins.

What six basic emotions did Paul Ekman identify?

Anger, fear, surprise, disgust, happiness, and sadness.

What are early newborn smiles like?

They are brief smiles that do not necessarily indicate happiness.

When do infants begin displaying social smiles?

Approximately 6 weeks to 3 months.

How do infants' smiles change around 4 months?

They begin smiling in response to familiar people's smiles.

How does anger change between 4 and 16 months?

Anger increases in intensity and frequency.

When do infants display fear?

When they encounter threatening situations.

What are self-conscious emotions?

Emotions involving awareness of oneself and others.

What are four examples of self-conscious emotions?

Pride, embarrassment, guilt, and shame.

How do emotional expression and communicative function differ?

Expression is showing an emotion; communicative function is the message that the emotion sends to others.