The development of embarrassment

Parents of children in the age range 3 to 12 years were asked about their children's embarrassment and blushing during the previous six months. This survey revealed that roughly one in four preschool children showed embarrassment. Starting with age 5, a majority of children showed embarrassment. There were no systematic gender differences. Blushing was reported in slightly more than half the children who were embarrassed. On the assumption that embarrassment signals the presence of a social self, a social self develops at about 5 years of age for most children.