PSYC21H3 Chapter 5: CHAPTER 5.docx
Document Summary
Children display emotions and communicate their feelings, needs and desires and influence other people"s behavior. Emotions are complex and involve a subjective reaction to something in the environment and are accompanied by a physiological arousal and are communicated to others through expression or action. Usually experienced as either pleasure or displeasure. Primary emotions- fear, joy, disgust, surprise, sadness and interest, which emerges early in life and do not require introspection or self-reflection. Secondary or self-conscious emotions- pride, shame, guilt, jealousy, embarrassment, and empathy which emerge in the second year of life and depend on a sense of self and awareness of other people"s reaction"s. Learning perspective: this perspective is useful for explaining individual differences in emotional expression, learning experiences can also reinforce children"s responsiveness. For example, a child who receives more positive stimulation from his parents will show more positive emotion. Functional perspective: the purpose of emotions, according to this perspective is to help people achieve their social survival goals.
