title: The physiological correlates of children's emotions in contexts of moral transgression.
abstract: Heightened attention to sociomoral conflicts and arousal at the prospect of committing moral transgressions are thought to increase the likelihood of negatively valenced moral emotions (NVMEs; e.g., guilt) in children. Here, we tested this biphasic model of moral emotions with a psychophysiological framework. For a series of vignettes depicting moral transgressions, 5- and 8-year-olds (N=138) were asked to anticipate their emotions as hypothetical victimizers. Their responses were coded for the presence and intensity of NVMEs. In addition, their heart rate (HR) was calculated for three intervals of interest: a baseline period, the presentation of vignettes, and the anticipation of emotions following vignettes. We used multilevel modeling to examine how change in children's HR across these intervals related to the intensity of their NVMEs. Those who experienced greater HR deceleration from baseline to vignettes and greater acceleration from vignettes to anticipated emotions reported more intense NVMEs. We discuss the potential attention- and arousal-related processes behind children's physiological reactivity and anticipated emotions in contexts of moral transgression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ontario L5L 1C6, Canada. Electronic address: tina.malti@utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Malti
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ontario L5L 1C6, Canada.
authors.forename: Tyler
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Colasante
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ontario L5L 1C6, Canada.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zuffianò
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Leiden University, 2300 RB Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marieke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Bruine
mesh_terms: D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D006167:Guilt; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009014:Morals
keywords: Childhood; Guilt; Heart rate; Heart rate reactivity; Moral emotions; Psychophysiology