topic 6
Early Childhood
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Critical Thinking Questions Emotionality and emotional
regulation and control have been shown in a variety of studies to be related to social functioning and competence. How emotions develop and how they are regulated are therefore areas of particular interest to developmental
psychologists. One theory is that children develop emotional control as a result of security in their attachment relationships. Another theory of emotional development suggests that children are taught to regulate their emotions
through interactions with influential adults.
The articles below address this topic. After reading them, answer the following questions: What factors may play a role in
the development of emotional control, according to the authors of the articles you read? Although each of the articles presents a different approach to explaining emotional control, are there features that they share in common?
What might this suggest? Are there other factors that are not directly mentioned in these articles that might influence the development of emotional control? Provide support for your answers. "Preschool children's emotional
expressions with peers: The roles of gender and emotion socialization." Pamela W. Garner, Shannon Robertson and Gail Smith. Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, June 1997 v36 n11-12 p675(17). "Children's
ability to delay gratification: Longitudinal relations to mother-child attachment." Teresa Jacobsen, Michael Huss, Michael Fendrich, Markus J.P. Kruesi and Ute Ziegenhain. Journal of Genetic Psychology, Dec 1997 v158 n4
p411(16). "Emotionality and regulation predict social competence, problem behavior." Nancy Eisenberg and Sandra Losoya. The Brown University Child and Adolescent Behavior Letter, Nov 1997 v13 n11 p1(3).
Research Question Another developmental task of early childhood is the
development of perspective taking. This ability not only contributes to social competence, but also to the development of empathy. The following research study investigates the perspective taking abilities of 4 and 6 yr. olds in a
map-drawing task.
After reading the article, answer the following questions: What were the independent and dependent variables in this study? How did the researchers manipulate
the independent variable(s)? How did they control for confounding variables? What changes would you make if you were to do this study? "Do children's maps differ for younger and older friends?" James R. Wallace and Tresa
L. Almy. Journal of Genetic Psychology, March 1999 v160 i1 p89(1).
Suggested Readings from Infotrac College Edition "Children's
understanding of the distinction between real and apparent emotions: A training study." Mark Bennett and Mary Knight. Journal of Genetic Psychology, Sep 1996 v157 n3 p267(8). A research study that investigates whether
experience with disguising emotions mediates young children's ability to distinguish between real and feigned emotions.
"Turning off the television". Miriam E Bar-on.
British Medical Journal, April 24, 1999 v318 i7191 p1152(1). Written in support of various child development organizations' attempts to reduce the amount of television viewed by children. Includes a discussion and brief review
of findings regarding the effects of television viewing on children. "Studies report watching TV news triggers fear in kids; gives them violent view of the world." Jet, Sept 7, 1998 v94 n15 p25(2). A report on
studies showing children's adverse reactions to viewing TV news programs. "Pantomime and theory of mind." Thomas Suddendorf, Claire Fletcher-Flinn and Leah Johnston. Journal of Genetic Psychology, March 1999 v160 i1
p31(1). Pretend play among children and its relationship to development of a theory of mind is investigated. "'Time out' to correct misbehavior may aggravate it instead." Peter Ernest Haiman. The Brown University Child
and Adolescent Behavior Letter, Oct 1998 v14 n10 p1(4). An article explaining how improper use of "time out" as a disciplinary measure may actually increase problematic behavior rather than diminish it. "Parental
discipline and behavior problems in young children." Viktor Brenner and Robert A. Fox. Journal of Genetic Psychology, June 1998 v159 n2 p251(6). A research investigation suggests that high use of punishment by parents is
related to development of behavior problems in children aged 1-5.. "Effects of gender constancy and figure's height and sex on young children's gender-type attributions." Gary D. Levy. The Journal of General Psychology
, Jan 1998 v125 n1 p65(24). This study is an investigation of processes that contribute to development of gender stereotypes among young children.