Developmental dynamics of emotion and cognition processes in preschoolers

Abstract

Dynamic relations during the preschool years across processes of control and understanding in the domains of emotion and cognition were examined. Participants were 263 children (42% non-White) and their mothers who were seen first when the children were 3 years old and again when they were 4. Results indicated dynamic dependence among the processes studied. Specifically, change in cognitive processes of control and understanding were dependent upon initial levels of the other processes. Changes in emotion control and understanding were not predicted by earlier performance in the other processes. Findings are discussed with regard to the constructs of control and understanding and the developmental interrelations among emotion and cognitive processes.

Figure 1

Dynamics of a multivariate emotion-cognition system. ECM= Emotion Control-Mother-report; ECO= Emotion Control- Observed; EU= Emotion Understanding; CC= Cognitive Control; CU= Cognitive Understanding. EC₃= scores at 3.5 years; ΔECM= yearly changes in ECM; triangle= constant=1; path from constant to change= slope intercept; ECM₀= variance of initial scores; ECM_s= variance of slope scores. Solid lines represent coupling parameters (δ); dotted lines represent auto-proportion or self-feedback parameters (β). Correlations among the 3 year processes and among the difference scores are estimated but not shown.

Figure 2

Panel A Emotion Control- Mother-report as the only leading indicator of development in emotion and cognitive processes. Panel B. Development of Emotion Control- Mother-report is independent of the other processes. Panel C. Emotion Control- Mother-report as the only process that does not influence development in the other processes.

Figure 2

Panel A Emotion Control- Mother-report as the only leading indicator of development in emotion and cognitive processes. Panel B. Development of Emotion Control- Mother-report is independent of the other processes. Panel C. Emotion Control- Mother-report as the only process that does not influence development in the other processes.