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 the natural growth process controlled by genes, not learning or experience.
• Emotions develop gradually as the brain and body grow, becoming clearer and better controlled with age.
• Arnold Gesell said emotional development follows a natural pattern, while Florence Goodenough showed it can occur even without normal sensory experiences.
• The frontal lobe helps control emotions, and hormones from glands like the adrenal glands influence emotional reactions.
• Emotional development progresses from basic emotions in infancy to better self-control and understanding of others in later childhood.