Emotional Development during Infancy and Childhood - Role of Maturation in Emotional Development

Maturation means the natural process of growth driven by our genes, not by learning or experience.​ It controls when and how emotional abilities and responses appear as we age.

• Emotions develop gradually, following the body and brain’s growth pattern.​
• As a child matures, new emotional responses appear, and old ones become better controlled.
• For example, Babies often cry to express all their feelings. As their brains mature, they learn to show anger, joy, fear, or sadness differently and more clearly.​
• Emotional development is influenced by both health and intelligence.​

• Gesell: Each child’s emotional life grows according to a built-in plan as the brain matures. Even in isolation, emotions will appear and develop in order.
• Goodenough: Even children without the ability to see or hear can show emotional development if their bodies and brains mature naturally.

Frontal Lobe

• The frontal lobe of the brain (front part) helps control mature emotional responses.
• If the frontal lobe is not mature or is damaged, people may struggle to manage emotions.

Hormones and Glands

• The adrenal glands (above the kidneys) grow rapidly after birth and release hormones that trigger emotional reactions.

• Maturation is a natural process guiding the order and timing of emotions.
• Emotional growth relies on brain regions (such as the frontal lobe) and hormones (produced by glands such as the adrenal glands).
• Even without outside teaching, emotions develop as part of body and brain development.​
• Family, health, and intelligence also support emotional development.