EMOTION REGULATION IN 2-YEAR-OLDS - STRATEGIES AND EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION IN 4 CONTEXTS

A descriptive study of the modulation of negative emotion in the toddl er period was conducted by examining expressions of negative emotion a nd the strategies used to reduce or change these expressions. 6 strate gies were identified and evaluated in terms of their frequency of use in different situations, relations with emotional expressiveness, and cross-situational consistency. 37 2-year-olds were seen in 2 laborator y contexts (delay and separation) each with 2 variants. Emotion regula tion strategies and emotional expressiveness were coded from videotape s of children's behavior in these 4 situations. Findings suggest that active engagement was most commonly used and most negatively associate d with child distress. Use of strategies varied by context., and there was more cross-situational consistency in use of strategies that were more negatively or positively associated with distress within a given context than in use of particular strategies without consideration of their within-context significance.