Developmental Pathways of Emotion Regulation in Childhood: A Neuropsychological Perspective

ABSTRACTThis article presents a model featuring two types of emotion regulationreactive and deliberateand discusses the developmental trajectory of both types. We argue that the laterdeveloping capacity for deliberate control builds on and coevolves with earlierdeveloping reactive control. Findings from the field of developmental neuroscience are mapped onto this model. The focus is on specific neural hubs, such as the anterior cingulate cortex and the orbitofrontal cortex, which serve as epicenters for the coupling of cortical and subcortical processes. We propose that an increasing coordination between brain regions during emotional situations subserves more effective and efficient regulation with development. This framework can be used to explain different developmental pathways of regulatory styles that can, for example, lead to aggressive versus anxious modes of emotion regulation. The implications of this framework can help guide educational policy by supporting prevention and intervention strategies for children exhibiting difficulties with emotion regulation.

Developmental Pathways of Emotion Regulation in Childhood: A Neuropsychological Perspective Academic Article