Social and Emotional Development Lab

The goal of our research is to understand the multifaceted influences on early psychological development, especially in early childhood. In our studies of the growth of emotion understanding and emotion self-regulation, conscience development, understanding of self and others, and related topics, we seek to understand the convergence of influences within and surrounding the developing child. Our studies devote attention, for example, to the influence of the warmth and security of the parent-child relationship, the child’s own efforts to comprehend her or his psychological experience, the broader emotional climate of the child’s life, neighborhood processes, and the sociodemographic context of family life. We invite you to learn more about this work and, if interested, to become involved yourself.

CURRENT PROJECTS

Early Social Understanding Study
This is a short-term longitudinal study investigating the influence of relational factors, such as the quality of mother-infant interaction and maternal socialization processes, on young children's interactions with an unfamiliar adult in a variety of novel social situations.  Mothers and their 12-month-olds will participate in the first wave of the study, and they will return six months later for a follow-up visit.  We will be recruiting mothers and their 12-month-olds beginning in August 2009.

Toddler Social Understanding Study
This study investigates the role of several relational influences and individual differences on 18-to 20-month-olds' behavior in social interactions.  We are interested in how toddlers' temperament and aspects of the mother-child relationship, including maternal mind-mindedness, attachment security, and maternal discourse regarding the causes of emotions, influences children's prosocial and helping behavior in response to emotional and non-emotional cues.  We recently completed data collection for this study, so we are no longer recruiting participants.

Infants' Social Interactions Study
This study will examine the sources of individual differences, such as maternal mental health status, which influence the way infants interact, both with their primary caregivers and with others. Data collection for this project was completed in Summer 2008, and is currently being analyzed.

Preschoolers' Emotional Development Study
This study is examining the sources of individual differences in the quality of mothers’ conversations with their children about emotion, and how these conversations influence preschool children’s emotion knowledge of self and other, and emotion regulation. Data collection was completed in Spring 2007 and in currently being analyzed.

More Photos of our Lab