In infancy, what does evualuative emotions refer to
In infancy, evaluative emotions refer to the ability of infants to form judgments and experience emotions based on their evaluation of the situation or objects around them. This includes emotions such as liking, disliking, preference, or aversion towards certain stimuli. Infants start to develop these emotions as they begin to perceive and evaluate their environment and make rudimentary decisions about what they find pleasurable, comforting, or distressing.
Evaluative emotions in infancy refer to the child's early emotional responses that are influenced by their evaluation or judgment of a situation or event. These emotions are considered evaluative because they involve the infant's subjective assessment or appraisal of something happening around them.
It is important to note that evaluative emotions may not be fully developed in infancy and can vary depending on the child's age and stage of development. However, researchers have identified some early evaluative emotions that infants may experience:
1. Interest: Infants show interest in novel stimuli or events that catch their attention. They may exhibit positive expressions, increased attention, or engage in exploratory behaviors.
2. Surprise: When infants encounter unexpected or unfamiliar events, they may display surprise. This emotion is characterized by widened eyes, raised eyebrows, and an open mouth.
3. Fear: Infants may exhibit fear in response to perceived threats or potentially harmful situations. They may display body tension, increased heart rate, crying, or withdrawal behaviors.
4. Disgust: Some researchers argue that infants can experience disgust, which is often associated with noxious or unpleasant stimuli. This emotion is expressed through facial expressions like wrinkling of the nose or mouth, accompanied by negative vocalizations.
5. Happiness: Infants demonstrate happiness through positive facial expressions such as smiling, laughter, cooing, and vocalizations. This emotion is often associated with positive interactions with caregivers, playfulness, or satisfying experiences.
It's important to note that the infant's evaluative emotions develop further as they grow and interact with the environment, allowing them to experience a wider range of emotions and refine their emotional evaluations.