Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

70
Peter LaFreniere Dept of Psychology University of Maine

description

Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence. Peter LaFreniere Dept of Psychology University of Maine. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Page 1: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Peter LaFreniereDept of PsychologyUniversity of Maine

Page 2: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

During the preschool years, researchers have consistently noted a gradual rise in social competence as children acquire greater cognitive and emotional maturity and self-control and a corresponding decline in angry outbursts and aggressive behavior.

Page 3: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

One of the first researchers to document age trends was Florence Goodenough who questioned mothers regarding these behaviors in a study conducted over 65 years ago.

She described a developmental trend in which anger and aggression peaked at age two and steadily declined during the preschool years, though it remained more common in boys than girls.

Page 4: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

We recently conducted a study with an extensive sample using teachers as informants. Over 800 preschool teachers in 12 countries (United States, Canada, France, Italy, Austria, Russia, Finland, China, Taiwan, Spain, Mexico and Brazil) participated.

Page 5: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

They evaluated over 4000 preschoolers using the Social Competence and Behavior Evaluation Inventory (SCBE), a rating scale developed to assess patterns of social competence, emotion regulation and expression, and adjustment difficulties.

Page 6: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Principal components analyses clearly identified three factors in all samples representing social competence, anxiety-withdrawal anger-aggression.

This basic division between two broad types of emotional/behavioral disorders has been extensively verified in early childhood and adolescence.

Page 7: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Let’s look under the hood…

Page 8: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Social Competence and Behavior Evaluation  Here is a list of behaviors that you may observe

when the child is in your care. Circle the number that reflects the frequency of the behavior that you observe for the child.

NEVER (1)SOMETIMES (2 or 3)OFTEN (4 or 5)ALWAYS (6).

Page 9: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Social Competence ItemsHelps with everyday tasks (e.g., distributes

snacks)Accepts compromises when reasons are

givenTakes pleasure in accomplishmentsNegotiates solutions to conflicts with

other children  Cooperates with other children

Page 10: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Social Competence ItemsTakes other children and their point of view

into accountComforts or assists another child in difficulty

 Shares toys Attentive towards younger children

Works easily in group

Page 11: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Anxious-Withdrawn ItemsMaintains neutral facial expression

(doesn’t smile or laugh)Tired Worries Timid, afraid

(e.g., avoids new situations) Sad, unhappy or depressed

Page 12: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Anxious-Withdrawn ItemsInhibited or uneasy in the groupInactive, watches other children play Remains apart, isolated from the group

Doesn't talk or interact during group

activities Goes unnoticed in a group

Page 13: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Angry-Aggressive ItemsEasily frustratedGets angry when interrupted Opposes the teacher's suggestions Irritable, gets mad easilyForces other children to do things they don't want to do

Page 14: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Angry-Aggressive ItemsHits, bites or kicks other childrenGets into conflicts with other childrenHits teacher or destroys things when angry

with teacherScreams or yells easily Defiant when reprimanded

Page 15: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

From the standpoint of parents, teachers, clinicians and the children themselves, the most readily apparent type of adjustment problem to the preschool classroom involves an inability to tolerate frustration, regulate anger and control aggressive behavior.

This type of problem is referred to as conduct disorder, externalizing behavioral problem or undercontrolled behavior, depending upon the theoretical orientation of the investigator.

Page 16: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Anger-Aggression ScalePreschool equivalent of broad-band syndromes

conduct disorder or externalizing symptoms.

The items describe angry, aggressive, selfish, and oppositional behaviors.

Emotion regulation and affective expression were shown to be as central as aggressive behavior to this scale. The item with the highest factor loading in all four US samples was "irritable, gets mad easily" and poor frustration tolerance and defiance were among the other high loadings.

Page 17: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Children with extreme scores on this scale tend to express their negative emotions in ways that hurt or at least disturb others.

They function poorly in social situations, where they require almost constant supervision, often to protect others from their outbursts.

Page 18: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

The angry-aggressive group was found to be the most interactive with peers, but also the most rejected, results that correspond precisely with theoretical expectations, since aggression is associated with peer rejection across a wide age span.

Page 19: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Boys were rated higher on this scale than girls and younger preschoolers were rated higher than older preschoolers.

These gender differences were replicated in every culture.

Age differences were found in many cultures, but not in Japan and Italy.

Page 20: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Anxious-WithdrawnThe second basic type also has a long history

of investigation and is referred to variously as affective disorder, internalizing behavioral problem or overcontrolled behavior.

Children who illustrate this second type of problem often withdraw from social contact in the face of distress or high levels of emotional arousal and may inhibit behavioral and emotional expression when aroused.

Page 21: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

The anxiety-withdrawal scale of the SCBE is composed of items describing anxious, depressed, isolated, and overly dependent behavior.

The emotional items on this scale describe a child who is often sad, worried, timid, afraid and who rarely smiles or laughs during play with peers.

Page 22: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

The anxious-withdrawn group was observed to be significantly less interactive than all other groups, but not rejected by their peers.

These preschoolers spent much of their time in activities on the periphery of group life, such as onlooking and parallel play, and were also prone to be alone and unoccupied.

Page 23: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Children with extreme scores on this scale are seen by their teachers as sad, depressed, tired and worried, as well as isolated.

They show little interest in the activities,tend to have a poor self-image and show high levels of immaturity, as they often seek adult attention in situations that do not require it, and find it difficult to perform tasks within their capabilities without regular assurance, giving up easily where others would persist.

Page 24: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

There were no gender differences on this scale. This was replicated in every culture.

Age differences were slight, with younger children scoring higher than older children. This pattern was replicated across culture, except China.

Page 25: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Social Competence This scale of the SCBE taps a broad range

of behaviors designed to assess the positive qualities of the child's adaptation.

Refers to behaviors that indicate a well-adjusted, flexible, emotionally mature and generally prosocial pattern of social adaptation.

Page 26: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

The emotional items on this scale emphasize emotion regulation, including the child’s ability to remain calm during conflict, show pride and pleasure in their own accomplishments, accept compromises cheerfully, and demonstrate empathic awareness of other children’s needs and goals.

Page 27: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

The socially competent group received the most positive nominations and the least negative nominations from peers, and was highest in sociometric status. score high on assessments of ego resiliency show cooperation and affective-perspective

takingexpress high levels of positive affect and

relatively low levels of negative affect,are appreciated by their teacher.

Page 28: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Boys were rated lower on this scale than girls and younger preschoolers were rated lower than older preschoolers.

These gender differences were replicated in every culture.

Age differences were also replicated across culture.

Page 29: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence
Page 30: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Attachment theorists have proposed that patterns of co-regulation established within early social relationships provide an internal working model (IWM) for later social relations (Bowlby, 1980; Sroufe, 1996).

Because the attitudes, expectations and interpersonal skills that the child acquires are carried forward and reintegrated into emerging developmental contexts (LaFreniere & Sroufe, 1985).

Page 31: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Competence in one developmental period tends to promote adaptation within that period, while preparing the way for the formation of competence in the next. (Sroufe & Rutter, 1984).

Because homeostatic mechanisms are inherent to both the family system and the attachment subsystem, family environment and quality of attachment tend toward stability, though early deviations are likely to result in greater disturbances later on (Cicchetti, 1990).

Page 32: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

The child who shows persistent deviations may be assumed to be involved in a continuous maladaptive process.

A transactional model implies that a stable manifestation of maladaptation depends on environmental support, while the child's characteristics, reciprocally, partially determine the nature of the environment (Cicchetti & Schneider-Rosen, 1986).

Page 33: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Central questions for developmental psychopathology have to do with where such stability resides and how positive change may be realized.

Page 34: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Attachment theorists believe that the child's representational model of the attachment figure is closely interwoven with the child's emerging self concept, and the child's representation of relationships.

Bretherton argues that ¨if an attachment figure frequently rejects or ridicules the child's bids for comfort in stressful situations, the child may come to develop not only an internal working model of the parent as rejecting but also one of himself as not worthy of comfort or help.¨

Page 35: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Alternatively, if a child experiences the attachment figure as trustworthy, loving and sensitive, the child is likely to form a related model of the self as lovable and worthy of help and comfort from others.

IWM’s are thought to guide the processing of social information, as well as the child's beliefs, attitudes and feelings about the self and expectations regarding relationships.

Page 36: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Although IWM’s remain open to new input as the child encounters new people, they nevertheless tend towards stability because the child actively selects partners and forms new relationships that fit the existing model.

According to Bowlby, an IWM will be resistant to change once it is initially constructed, since it tends to operate outside the child's conscious awareness and because new information is assimilated to the existing model (Bowlby, 1980).

Page 37: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

In a new social milieu the child actively elicits confirmation of the IWM, while often ignoring or discounting counter evidence.

Such "self-fulfilling" prophecies may bias a development by creating pathways that originate with the caregiver's behavior towards the child.

Page 38: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Toddler Period Developmental theorists such as Ainsworth

(Ainsworth et al, 1974), Erikson (1963), Kopp (1982), and Sroufe (1996) view the toddler period as critical for the development of an autonomous self-system, capable of independence and initiative, as well as responsiveness and conformity to rules and expectations of others.

Page 39: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Human evolution is rooted in the basic primate patterns of group living involving elements of both cooperation and competition, and the care of children in all cultures changes dramatically at this age by presenting the child with a wider variety of social partners than during infancy.

Page 40: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Despite this increased diversity of social partners, central developmental tasks for this period still involve changes in the ongoing relationship with the primary caregivers.

Attachment theorists believe that child’s capacity for emotion regulation is shaped within the child's closest relationships.

Page 41: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Sroufe (1996) employs the term guided self-regulation to capture the intermediate position of the toddler, between the earlier stage when the dyadic-regulation provided mostly by the caregiver predominates, and the later stage when the preschooler achieves true self-regulation.

In this intermediate stage, toddlers are learning how to regulate their own emotions and behavior within the limits and guidelines provided by their caregivers.

Page 42: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Two important influences on the dynamics of this learning process have been clarified by research:

1) the overall quality of the parent's approach to discipline during the toddler period is more important than any specific childrearing practice,

2) attachment history has a profound impact on the transition towards more autonomous functioning.

Page 43: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Substantial evidence demonstrates a link between parenting styles involving warmth and control and later child outcomes though genetic factors, particularly gene-environment interactions may underlie these associations.

Page 44: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

In this research variables are often formulated to index qualitative dimensions of parenting that operate across a wide range of different contexts.

Sroufe and colleagues view emotional support and quality of assistance as key aspects of parental competence. Their approach involves different problem-solving situations, each presenting the parent-toddler dyad with a unique challenge.

Page 45: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

The 1st situation involving free play is minimally challenging, particularly with respect to the issue of autonomy.

The 2nd situation, in which the parent was instructed to interrupt the child's play at a prearranged signal and get them to put away the toys is designed to test how smoothly the pair could accommodate a potential conflict of wills.

Page 46: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

The 3rd situation involved a graded series of physical problems presented from the simplest to the most difficult to assure that all children would be taxed beyond their capabilities to solve the problem.

This procedure is designed to assess the flexibility of the parent-child dyad, including parental support and guidance, and the child's emotion regulation and motivation.

Page 47: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Toddlers with a history of secure attachment with their mothers were found to be more enthusiastic in this context, expressing more positive affect and less frustration, and were more successful, by virtue of their greater persistence, flexibility and cooperation.

Page 48: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Toddlers with a history of anxious attachment showed different patterns of maladaptation. An earlier pattern of anxious-resistant attachment was associated with poor emotional regulation. These toddlers were often clingy, and easily prone to emotional dysregulation, becoming frustrated and/or oppositional in the cleanup and problem-solving situations.

Page 49: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Toddlers with an anxious-avoidant history were somewhat disengaged with the tasks, showing little pleasure or enthusiasm, and often ignoring their mothers' attempts to involve them.

Page 50: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Historically, this research was important for demonstrating continuity in both the patterns of the child's emotional competence and maternal sensitivity across different developmental periods, at a time when researchers were questioning such continuites.

Page 51: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Maslin and Bates (1983) also found that securely attached infants engaged in less conflict with their mothers at age two than toddlers with a history of insecure attachment. In particular, toddlers who were earlier assessed as anxious-avoidant were more prone to enter into conflict with their mothers. Reciprocally, their mothers were more restrictive and controlling.

Page 52: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

As with the attachment assessment, these studies reveal disturbances in the parent-child relationship, rather than problems that reside exclusively within the child.

During the toddler years however, the tensions and problems experienced with the primary attachment figure may be carried forward into other adult-child relationships,

Page 53: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

It appears that the capacity for regulating affectively arousing stimulation is central to positive adaptation in both the family and peer system.

For example, Easterbrooks and Lamb (1979) and Lieberman (1976) found secure attachment to be associated with positive, reciprocal exchanges with agemates at 18 months and three years, respectively.

Page 54: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Preschool PeriodDuring the preschool years, basic patterns

of attachment are transformed reflecting developments in language and cognition, as well as shifting issues in psychosocial adjustment.

For the child experiencing a secure relationship, there is a new partnership with the caregiver that reflects these advances and allows for increased autonomy and initiative.

Page 55: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Within the parent-child relationship, the secure strategy incorporates perspective-taking, mutual commun-ication of affect and desires and joint planning, however a number of deviations from this pattern are possible, (Crittendon, 1992; Sroufe, 1989).

Page 56: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

A transactional model casts the child as an active agent rather than a passive recipient of environmental input or a direct product of genetic determinism.

A new social milieu, such as the preschool, may be constructed differently by different children according to their attachment history.

Page 57: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Considerable evidence has established a direct link between an infant’s primary attachment relationship and peer relations. Compared to insecurely attached peers, securely attached preschoolers behave more positively towards their peers receive more positive behavior from them, are better liked by peers, enjoy more positive and synchronous friendships, are viewed by their teachers as helpful,

cooperative, empathic and socially competent

Page 58: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Minnesota Longitudinal Study Attachment history (12 and 18 months)

has been related to emerging behavioral problems in pre-schoolers.

Results indicated that for this high risk, inner city sample (n=180) behavioral problems were evident for: 85% of infants with stable insecure

attachments, 60% with mixed attachments and29% with stable secure attachments.

Page 59: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

The investigators then examined other risk factors in the home in order to discover why some securely attached infants showed later behavioral problems and other insecurely attached infants did not.

Compared to securely attached infants without later problems, secure infants that did show problems had mothers who were less emotionally supportive and not as clear or consistent in their guidance and limit setting.

Page 60: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Other evidence suggested that these mothers experienced more confusion and disorganized mood states during this period and were less involved with their child than mothers of secure infants without behavior problems.

Page 61: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

When children with an earlier history of secure attachment were subsequently exposed to less than adequate maternal care and support, they were more likely to manifest behavior problems than secure infants in stable caregiving environments.

Similarly, anxiously attached infants could become well-functioning preschoolers if their caregivers responded adequately to their needs during later developmental stages

Page 62: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Anxious-resistantrisk factor for internalizing behavior

problems, including anxiety, high dependency on adults, social withdrawal, passivity, submissiveness with peers

As infants and toddlers they were observed to be wary, easily upset, and difficult to settle. They were also characterized by a poverty of exploration and at times they showed explicitly angry, tantruming behavior, all presumably based on a history of inconsistent or chaotic care.

Page 63: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Later they were found to become low-status, peripheral members of their preschool peer group three years later.

Some of these children exhibited extreme passivity and an infantile dependence on adults, while others were more forward with their peers, but became easily over aroused and disorganized in the face of minor frustrations.

Page 64: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Anxious-avoidantThe adoption of an avoidant behavioral style

in order to cope with chronic insensitivity and rejection by their primary caregiver may lay the foundation for a defensive personality characterized by hostility and negative expectations of others.

Preschoolers with anxious-attachment histories were found to express more hostility and negative affect towards their peers, and were more rejected by them than securely attached children.

Page 65: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Researchers have also found that preschoolers with a history of avoidant attachment appear to be vulnerable to externalizing problems which may be expressed in relational aggression.

In free play sessions, a high percentage of children with avoidant histories took advantage of and mistreated their play partner. In all cases of victimization the "exploiter" had an avoidant history, while the victim often had a resistant history.

Page 66: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Preschool teachers often have distinct emotional reactions to children with different attachment histories. Several studies have shown that they often

nurtured and protected children with resistant histories, but sometimes reacted with anger to the open defiance and bullying of children with avoidant histories.

These distinct emotional responses on the part of new caregivers underscore the transactional nature of these early emotional disorders.

Page 67: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Disorganized patternMain and Solomon (1990) believe that

these children respond to internal conflict by displaying contradictory or incomplete behavior patterns formed in response to chronic abusive or frightening parental behavior.

As preschoolers, they appear to be inflexible and controlling, possibly as an attempt to bring some semblance of order to an otherwise chaotic network of close relationships.

Page 68: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

This pattern may also involve a role reversal between parent and child in caregiving and punishment.

Such behaviors are believed to be mediated by deviant patterns of emotional regulation and communication in the parent-child relationship.

Page 69: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Developmentally Appropriate Practice

From the National Association for the Education of Young Children, 2009.

Page 70: Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Social Competence

Developmentally Appropriate Practice

1. Creating a caring community of learners2. Teaching to enhance development and learning3. Goal oriented curriculum4. Assessing children’s development and learning5. Establishing reciprocal relationships with

families.

- National Association for the Education of Young Children, 2009