How is a preschooler's emotional expression socialized? This research will investigate individual differences in pre-school children's expression and understanding of emotions. Studies will explore parental socialization of emotions in 3 1/2 year old children. The planning grant will provide an opportunity to improve the methodology and test the feasibility of various measures of modeling, coaching, and contingency. After the planning grant activity has been completed, there will be a follow-on proposal for a longitudinal, comprehensive test of a model predicting how socialization about emotions affects the young child's understanding and expression of emotions.
