WJEC GCSE Health and Social Care, and Childcare

Erin describes herself as an ‘emotional person’. 1. Make a list of five positive emotions and five negative emotions. 2. Describe how a person’s behaviour can be affected by their emotions. 3. Explain what emotions may have caused Erin to react in the way she is in the picture above. Emotional development across the life cycle Emotional development affects a person’s feelings or emotions. It involves: • becoming aware of your ‘ self ’ • developing feelings about your ‘self’ • working out how you feel towards other people • developing a self-image and personal identity . A person will develop and express emotions, such as love, happiness, sadness and anger, through the relationships and social situations they experience across the life cycle. Infancy Feeling loved, secure and cared for during infancy provides an important foundation for later emotional development. Infants should develop feelings of trust and security. This happens when an attachment relationship is made between an infant and their parents or main caregivers. The parental response to this emotional linking is known as bonding . Effective emotional development depends on the infant’s needs being understood and met in a consistent way by their parents or caregivers. Childhood As we grow older, we learn to recognise, understand and take account of other people’s feelings. The very early relationships we have with parents and close relatives, such as brothers, sisters and grandparents, play a vital role in this. The way that others treat us also affects our emotional development and sense of personal identity. Think about it 5 Understanding emotional development Emotions A state of mind resulting from mood, relationships with others or the circumstances a person is in. Self A person’s sense of ‘who’ they are. Self-image A mental picture a person has of themselves, their abilities and attributes compared to those of others. Personal identity A person’s view of their qualities, beliefs, personality and sense of belonging. Attachment relationship A deep and lasting emotional bond that connects one person to another over time, such as a parent–child relationship. Bonding The formation of an emotionally close human relationship. Key terms Emotions are a natural part of being human. 24 1.1 Human development across the life cycle