Significance of Expressions for the Development of Emotions

Abstract

This reply to three reviews of the book Development of Emotions and Emotion Regulation (2006) discusses the criticisms of our internalization model of emotional development. The model highlights the significance of expressions for the ontogenetic differentiation of emotions. We focus particularly on the reviewers’ remarks on the degree and usefulness of an internalization of emotional expression signs, on the methodological problems when assessing internalized expression signs, and on the development of a strategic use of expression signs in social interactions. Finally, we agree with the reviewers’ emphasis on the need to consider how the interplay between the development of emotions and emotion regulation leads to the emergence of increasing cultural differences throughout the course of ontogenesis.

Keywords

cross-cultural differences development emotion regulation emotions

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