Socio-emotional Development 2 Flashcards
(11 cards)
What are the stages of empathy development in early childhood?
• Egocentric empathy (12–24 months): Responds to others’ distress without understanding cause
• Empathy for others’ feelings (~3 years): Recognizes others may feel differently
• Empathy for others’ life conditions (5+ years): Understands others’ broader emotional experiences
How does personal distress relate to empathy development?
Personal distress is a self-focused aversive reaction to others’ distress; in early development, it can motivate helping behavior as children learn that helping others reduces their own discomfort.
What methods are used to measure empathy in young children?
• Physiological responses: Heart rate, skin conductance
• Facial expressions: Sadness, concern, avoidance
• Behavioural responses: Prosocial helping, avoidance, disinterest
What does the balloon experiment reveal about empathy?
Toddlers (18–25 months) who saw a person harmed earlier were more likely to share or comfort that person later, even without visible distress; this indicates early cognitive empathy.
What is the difference between emotional and cognitive empathy?
• Emotional empathy: Feeling what others feel
• Cognitive empathy: Understanding what others feel, even without visible cues
What is well-modulated vs. poorly modulated arousal in empathy?
• Well-modulated: Leads to prosocial behavior (e.g., comforting others)
• Poorly modulated: Leads to avoidance or inaction; associated with personal distress
How do children typically respond to distress in others?
Responses vary—some show sadness, others concern, and some disengage. These patterns are linked to physiological arousal and social maturity.
What are callous-unemotional (CU) traits?
Traits marked by lack of empathy, shallow affect, low remorse, and poor emotional responsiveness; associated with conduct disorders and risk for psychopathy.
Can children with CU traits still understand others’ emotions?
Yes; they may have intact cognitive empathy (understanding others’ feelings) but lack emotional empathy (feeling others’ emotions).
What are the differences between AB/CU+ and AB/CU− profiles?
• AB/CU+: Low arousal, low punishment sensitivity, highly heritable
• AB/CU−: High arousal, reactive aggression, more environmentally influenced
Why is it important to distinguish between AB/CU+ and AB/CU−?
They require different interventions; CU+ may respond better to reward-based strategies, while CU− may respond to structured consequences.
