The regulation of fear: the contribution of inhibition and emotion socialisation

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the contribution of inhibition and maternal socialisation of children's fear to observed emotion regulation during a fear induction. Fifty-three parent–child dyads (M_age = 3.76 years) participated. Parents completed a series of questionnaires, and parent–child dyads were observed during a fear induction. Children's behaviour was coded for latency to approach the fear stimulus, expressions of fear, and regulation of emotion during the fear episode. Inhibition positively predicted orientation to mother and negatively predicted task orientation during the fear episode. In addition, the interaction between inhibition and supportive reactions to fear predicted children's engagement in distraction during the fear episode; the relation between inhibition and distraction was significant when mothers reported high levels of support to children's fear. The results indicated that mothers’ supportive reactions to children's fear bolster their emotion regulatory skills.

Keywords:

• emotion socialisation
• inhibition
• emotion regulation
• fear

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Hilary Bougher, Jordan Diesel, Ying Dong, Jessica Grady, Kari Maxwell, Anna McEwan, Jessica Rupenthal, Scott Smith, Lauren (Keim) Summerfield, Ashtyn Whyte, and Bailey Workman for their assistance in the collection and coding of the data. In addition, we would like to thank the families who participated in the study.

Funding

This research was funded in part by a West Virginia University Faculty Senate Grant for Research and Scholarship [R-09-026] awarded to Amy E. Root.

Notes on contributors

Amy E. Root, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Child Development and Family Studies at West Virginia University. Her research focuses on the interplay between children's dispositional traits and care giving environment as predictors of children's social and emotional development.

Rachel Byrne recently completed a bachelor's degree in Animal and Nutritional Science at West Virginia University. While at West Virginia University, she volunteered as a research assistant on a study of children's emotional development with Dr. Root.

S. Michelle Watson is a master's degree in Educational Psychology at West Virginia University. Her research interests are primarily focused on adolescent development.