Abstract
This investigation focused on the developmental change of emotional regulation in early childhood. 19 toddlers were observed in a mildly frustrating situation at both 18 and 24 months of age. They participated in a problem-solving task which required them to open a locked box without the active assistance of their mothers. Coping behaviors were evaluated in terms of coping styles (problem-focused vs.emotion-focused) and the targets of their coping behavior. According to the observations, problem-focused coping behaviors increased in frequency with age. More refined coping strategies were frequently exhibited at 24 months. In contrast, the amount of behavior directed at the mothers (help-seeking and comfort-seeking) decreased between 18 and 24 months. These results suggest that toddlers acquire greater autonomy in emotional regulation as they develop effective and organized coping behavior. Finally, several types of distraction behaviors were observed as facilitating emotion-focused coping, and the positive functions of distraction behavior we rereconsidered.
