Table 9.3.
Social behaviors | Expected age of accomplishment |
---|---|
Expresses a variety of emotions (including happiness, sadness, interest, surprise, anger, fear, disgust) | By the age of 6 months |
Demonstrates a predictable social smile (i.e, smile that is clearly directed or shared with another person) | By the age of 6 months |
Matches the emotions expressed by an adult in face-to-face interactions | By the age of 6 months |
Shows nervousness with strangers (and therefore is differentiating familiar and unfamiliar people) | Between 7 and 12 months |
Relies on caregiver to be a secure base while exploring environment | Between 7 and 12 months |
Uses social referencing (looking back at caregiver) in order to pick up cues about how to react in new situations | Between 7 and 12 months |
Readily joins in play with familiar children, such as siblings, cousins, and so on | Between 13 and 18 months |
Recognizes image of self in mirrors and pictures | Between 13 and 18 months |
Begins to show empathy for others (by trying to comfort others or directing sympathetic facial expressions to others who are hurt or unhappy) | Between 13 and 18 months |
Able to follow simple directions given by familiar caregiver | Between 13 and 18 months |
Expresses more subde, more complex emotions, such as shame and embarrassment | Between 19 and 24 months |
Verbally expresses a variety of emotion words | Between 19 and 24 months |
Begins to use communication as a tool for self-regulation | Between 19 and 24 months |
Uses own name and personal pronouns | Between 19 and 24 months |
Understands basic categories that are associated with people, such as age and sex | Between 19 and 24 months |
Distinguishes between intentional and unintentional acts by self and others | Between 2 and 3 years |
Shows ability to be cooperative with caregivers | Between 2 and 3 years |
Shows emerging understanding of how actions cause feelings and vice versa | Between 2 and 3 years |
Expression of complex emotions (such as shame, embarrassment, guilt, pride) increases | Between 3 and 5 years |
Engages in first friendships | Between 3 and 5 years |
Adapted from Berk (1996).