Development of Emotions

Abstract

The axis in emotional development is described in this chapter as an extension and variation on biological forms, shown as a variation of facial expressions of emotions in neonates and an establishment of emotional types based on cognitive development in communication with the child’s caretakers. A central part of development is the anchoring of representations to form a concept of continuous and independent objects which is the foundation for the first ordinary emotions at the last part of the child’s first year. The main process is an interaction where the child becomes aware that the parents’ emotional expressions communicate something, and that the child can influence the parents by similar expressions. This enables children e.g. to learn by observing their parents’ responses (“social referencing”) , and to develop an analog, emotional and universal language (“emotionese”) in their first year. The main developmental extension after the first year is described as the development of self-conscious emotions of shame, envy, and jealousy in the second, and pride and guilt in the third year of life, and as the development of nine components of understanding of emotion in the preschool years and beyond.