The Role of Cognitive Development in Children's Understandings of Their Own Feelings

CARROLL, JACQUELINE J., and STEWARD, MARGARET S. The Role of Cognitive Development in Children's Understandings of Their Own Feelings. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1984, 55, 1486-1492. The relationship between children's cognitive and affective processes was investigated with 30 4-5-year-olds and 30 8-9-year-olds who were interviewed individually, administered a series of Piagetian tasks, and given the PPVT. Verbal responses to questions about feelings were interpreted within a cognitive-developmental framework that postulated hierarchical levels of understanding. The child's level of performance on affective and cognitive tasks correlated significantly. Older children were more likely than younger children to describe feelings as an internal rather than a situational experience, to view their feelings from the perspective of another, to understand multiple feelings, and to regard themselves as able to change or hide their feelings. While age differences were pervasive, sex differences were not. There was some evidence that bright children were more self-aware about feelings.