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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 27, 2025

Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood

Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood

Published on: February 11, 2017

Definitions matter for studying emotional development.

Eric A Walle¹, Audun Dahl²

¹Department of Psychological Sciences, University of California, Merced.

Developmental Psychology

|March 6, 2020

Summary

This commentary contrasts structuralist and functionalist views of emotion, advocating for a functionalist perspective to advance emotional development research and address definitional clarity in the field.

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Area of Science:

Developmental Psychology
Emotion Research

Background:

The current state of research on emotional development requires clearer definitions of emotion.
Existing definitions impact theoretical and methodological approaches in emotion research.

Purpose of the Study:

To contrast structuralist and functionalist perspectives on emotion.
To highlight the benefits of a functionalist approach for emotional development research.

Main Methods:

Comparative analysis of structuralist and functionalist viewpoints.
Illustration of implications for empirical research design and interpretation.

Main Results:

The need for precise construct definition in emotion research is evident.
A functionalist perspective offers advantages for studying emotional development.

Conclusions:

Adopting a functionalist perspective can enhance the study of emotional development.
Clearer definitions of emotion are crucial for advancing the field.