How Children with Developmental Disorders Understand Emotional States of Their Peers and Adults in Different Interaction Situations

Abstract

The way how children understand other people's emotional states is a significant factor in their successful adaptation in society. Children with developmental disorders experience considerable difficulties in differentiating similar emotions, controlling emotional manifestations. The aim of the research was to study how preschoolers with developmental disorders understand emotional states of their peers and adults. The study involved 227 children aged 5-7 years: 95 children with no developmental disorders and 132 children with motor, sensory, emotional and speech disorders. In order to study the features of comprehension of emotional states of peers and adults, we used Semago’s “Emotional faces” technique and Veraksa’s method for studying how children comprehend the tasks in situations of interaction. We have revealed the specificity interaction with peers and adults as well as the features of comprehension of emotional states of other people by children from each nosological group. Keywords-emotions, interaction, children, preschool age, developmental disorders