Children and Emotion

This book will be of interest to psychologists, educators and philosophers. It highlights the child's increasing insight into the complexity and subtlety of our mental life. Acknowledgemtns.

Series Editor's Preface.

Introduction.

1. Facial expression in infancy.

2. Hurting and Comforting.

3. Beliefs, Desires and Emotions.

4. Pride, Shame and Guilt.

5. Mixed Feelings.

6. Hiding Emotion.

7. The Control of Emotion.

8. The Experience of Emotion.

9. Autism.

References.

Author Index.

Subject Index.

"In this lucidly written book Paul Harris changes how we think about children and emotion. No one who looks with or studies either should miss this book."
–Paul Ekman, University of California, San Francisco

"This is a superb book on all counts. First, it is exceptionally lucid and easy to read. Second, it is serious, responsible, and thought-provoking in its presentation of the material. Finally, Harris offers the scientist in this area a number of important creative insights about how development might proceed. In sum, this is a truly outstanding volume, one that combines lucidly with real depth and substance to an unusual degree."
–John H. Flavell, Stanford University

"I know of no other book in which theory and evidence on emotions and their relation to children’s social understanding is presented as well as in this book by Paul Harris."
–Keith Oatley, The Psychologist

"Harris' book should be the first point of reference for any student of the development of emotional understanding."
–Simon Baron-Cohen, British Journal of Developmental Psychology

Paul L. Harris is Lecturer in Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, amd Fellow of St. John's College. If we are to love, help, persuade or oppose other people, we must gauge what they think and what they want. Human interaction depends on what has been called ‘a theory of mind.’ One crucial component of that theory is an understanding of emotion. If we cannot understand what will upset or delight another person, we cannot fully participate in social life. This book traces the development of that understanding in the child, highlighting the child’s increasing insight into the complexity and subtlety of our mental life.